The application of project appraisal techniques in village selection process: the use of benefit-cost ration. a case study of three villages in Dodoma rural district

The study revealed that both project formulation and evaluation are alien in the selection process of village projects. Apart from some other factors that may have similar effects lack of adequate formation and evaluation counts significantly to the failure to derive benefits from project. This calls forth a re-orientation in the planning process so far there is overemphasis on the part of the government to argue villagers to implement their projects in time (as scheduled). The logical implicit assumption is that these projects have undergone an appraisal and proved worth undertaking for implementation. The study disapproves this kind of assumption. In addition some villages have shown a high capacity of raising funds for financing projects, even very expensive projects like lorry purchase. However, these resources will keep on being squandered if they will be committed to an appraised project which for problems that could be avoided have to be abandoned at an advanced stage. The study has also revealed that the villages do have the need to implement various projects. This is a commendable effort by both the party and Government as well as the villagers themselves. Nevertheless the lack of a sound basis on which the villages can cautiously refer for making sound investment decisions; means high capacity of implementing project can easily be misused. It is worthwhile noting that once a project has failed it is very difficult to re-introduce it at a later stage however fruit bearing it may be people get discouraged through recalling the past experience with the same project.