Analysis of effectiveness of participation of local communities infrastructure projects in Tanzania on selected domestic water projects.

In developing countries, and Tanzania in particular, participation of end beneficiaries such as local communities in infrastructure projects is one of limiting factors of sustainability development of many projects. Although the Tanzanian government spent a sustainability amount has been achieved due to lack of participation of end beneficiaries. This study which was mainly for analysis of effectiveness participation of local communities in infrastructure projects was based on three major rural community water projects in Mtwara and Lindi regions. The study found that although indicators for sustainability such that community participation in decision-making informed choice, contribution, representation, responsibility, authority and control over the projects signifies sustainability of the projects, still local communities were not effectively involved in all stages of the projects. Thus, participation in project identification, designing, implementation and project management, M & o were 50.7%, 0%, 31.7% and 17.6% respectively. This research recommends that local communities should be involved at all stages of projects and the DWE/RWE should always make close follow up of the projects and provide administrative and technical guidelines to the VWCs on the proper book-keeping and uses of funds obtained from daily water sales, and make sure that the projects are operated and maintained by technical staff on daily basis. Also the value of contributions of local communities and total investment cost for each project should be known to encourage participation of local communities.