Assessment of community empowerment and women involvement components in national Fadama 11 project in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the level of community and women involvement and empowerment in the implementation of the second National Fadama Development Project (Fadama II or NFDP II) in Ogun State. A sample of 240 Fadama II beneficiaries (members) was selected using a combination of purposive and random sampling methods. Data were collected by a structured interview schedule and focus group discussions. The study concluded that: the NFDP II in Obafemi-Owode LGA has successfully achieved the community empowerment and women involvement components of community-driven development (CDD) approach in its implementation. Involvement of beneficiaries and especially women in the project is high and NFDP II has impacted on the level of income of members and contributed to community development. Constraints facing the participants include cumbersome bureaucracy and long delays in releasing funds, too frequent and long meetings and insect pests attack. Recommendations made include that annual awards should be given to both the best gender sensitive and best members-empowered (community empowerment) Fadama Community Association (FCA) and Fadama User Group (FUG) in the local government area, and also that the extension agents and subject matter specialists covering the area of study should make more concerted efforts to address the problem of insect pests attack. KEYWORDS: Community driven development, women involvement, empowerment, World Bank, fadama, community empowerment, involvement, participation