The impact of information sharing on community participation: the case study of TASAF phase 1

This study investigated the impact of information sharing on community participation in TASAF supported programmes. The main objective of doing this research was to investigate the relationship between information sharing and community participation in development work by critically investigating horizontal and vertical accessibility and sharing of information during programme circle. In line with the main objective, six specific objectives were studded alongside 10 research questions. The study was conducted in Kibaha district while sample population was taken from Mlandizi and Visiga wards. 81 research respondents were taken to represent research population. This number included among others, common community members, village/ ward leaders, project implementing agents, project committees and representatives of the most vulnerable people. Research findings revealed two major characteristics of information dissemination and sharing. Data indicated that information produced at community level was well disseminated and shared among community members as well as people at higher authorities. However, data reviled that information from levels (both from district and TASAF HQ) was poorly disseminated and shared among community members. This tendency had affected implementation of programme activities since communities were not well prepared and therefore empowered in advance to participate in projects activities as equal partners to development but rather were regarded and perceived to as complete recipients and users of the end product of development. Field data showed that projects, which were implemented under the village authorities, were much better implemented through community participation compared to projects, which were under the PI A that were implemented without a meaningful community participation. This discrepancy was partly due to the fact that village government managed to share even the little information received from top authorities therefore were able to influence communities to play their roles. SSP projects, which were under the project-implementing agents, concentrated more in the expenditure of funds rather than capacity building hence suggests poor or no sustainability of SSP projects. Basing on the field data, recommendations have been given to community development agents to concentrate more in building the capacity of communities, empower community members with skills on how to run and support their projects rather than concentrating much in fund utilization. Funding agents have been challenged to ensure that local resources are fully and effectively used. Researchers have been challenged to conduct more researches of which should include as many projects from other districts as possible in order that findings and recommendations are not confined to a single are of but rather have a wide applicability in terms of coverage and different cases.