Thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of masters of Public Administration and Development Management (School of Business and Economics) at University of Dire Dawa.

 

CHAPTER ONE: PROBLEM STATEMENT AND METHODOLOGY

 

1.1  Introduction

 

 

The Ethiopian Federal democratic Republic proposed that an Integrated Development Planning Representation Forum be established to encourage the participation of communities and other stakeholders at ward levels and in local municipalities (Information Package on Integrated Development Planning, 2001). This is of importance because the affected community members would be in a position to utilize the opportunity to identify themselves more with common societal issues. Whilst participation in Integrated Development Planning has been successful in involving the public, the business and other sectors and different stakeholders, the situation is however complicated by the number of sectors involved as observed by the researcher (Information Package on Integrated Development Planning, 2001). This large number of stakeholders tend to weaken the degree of participation in the political processes. Different stakeholders present a multiplicity of interests. Furthermore, the local communities within the municipality can best articulate their own needs and assist in improving ownership of processes and legality of government projects that are cited as important for active citizen participation in the integrated development planning process (Buccus and Hicks, 2007).

Integrated Development Planning is a tool used to inform development planning in communities. It engages various stakeholders to contribute their input rationally. The researcher argues that the engagement of various stakeholders is put to a test due to the multiplicity of interests which are often associated with conflict; lack of trust and hidden agendas. This is opposed to what community participation is about. This study focused on nine community kebele's in the dire Dawa city administration Municipality;

It appears that there is variation in participation by kebele's in the dire Dawa city administration community in the forums and meetings arranged by the municipality. This has been noted from observations by

the researcher in previous forums and as a team member of the Social Development Services. Meetings vary from those sabiyan by Dire Dawa  city Municipality and Traditional meetings arranged by Kezira kebele. There is an understanding that these meetings are organized to put emphasis on people’s needs during their participation. However there is variation in terms of wards location that exist between kebele----- and ---- then there is something missing here. The extent to which community members participate in development committees vary and at different stages of planning meetings. This study examined whether this weakness of community participation exists in the context of Integrated Development Planning preparation process.

Encouraging community participation is a basis for good governance. This is supported by the laws and policies of the Ethiopian government. Local communities in Dire Dawa city Administration have to participate according to the principles, space and platform provided to them. Communities should participate freely, confidentially, without coercion or prejudice. Influential stakeholders and political decision makers should conduct themselves according to the rules and regulations consistent with the Ethiopian Constitution.

Study Area

 

The city is organized under the federal democratic republic of Ethiopia “Dire Dawa administration charter proclamation No. 416/2004”. The city has two tiers of administration the Municipality, which is responsible for efficient and effective service delivery and administration of the city. The other tier of administration is the Kebele’s; and there are 9 urban and 38 rural Kebele’s that are responsible for administering local issues, including organizing and mobilizing the community in development activities, social and security issues (UNHSP/UN-HABITAT,2008). 
Economic Activities
 
Agriculture
Mixed farming is the major economic activity in the rural area of the Administration; in the mountain foot slopes, valley bottoms and river terraces a variety of crops, both annuals and perennials do grow under both rain- fed and irrigated conditions. The cereal crops grown in the DDA are sorghum and maize only. Besides the cereal crops, a variety of vegetables, cash crops and fruits are also grown using traditional irrigation system furthermore livestock production in the administration significantly contribute to the pastoralist community economic activity (DDAEFCCA, 2011).
 
Trade
About 67% of the inhabitants of the city make their living directly and indirectly in trade; and most of those engaged in petty trading and the informal sector; and the employment of women in small and petty commercial activities is 70%; the informal sector provides employment for about 41% of the employed labor force and women account 45.8% compared to men 37.3% (BoFED- PSPDC, 2013).
 Study area Population
 
According to the CSA (2007) the total population of the Dire Dawa Administration was estimated to be 341,834, out of the total population the urban population was 233,224 and that of the rural population was 108,610. In the Administration, men population comprises the majority (50.2%.) while, female constitute the remaining 49.8%. In terms of age distribution, about 48.6 percent of the population is young, below the age of 19 years. The overall population density of the Administration was 196 persons /km². In general, the density is high in the urban areas and in the western and eastern parts of the region. In the DDA, the average family size in the urban was 4.3 persons per household, whereas in the rural part it was 5 persons per household. When we divide the total urban population to the average urban family size.
Total household = Total No of Urban Population   = 233,224   = 54,238.00
                               Average Urban Family Size           4.3

1.2  Statement of the problem

 

In the past, Ethiopia was governed by policies that promoted separatist development. When the African National Congress (ANC) led democratic government took over in 1994, it intended to address the problems of the past which promoted a segregated society, poverty and inequalities. Various policies and legislations were introduced such as Integrated Development plan mandated by Municipal Systems Act of 2000 and the Development Facilitation Act of 1995. Such policies intended to promote and integrate societies in decision making and openness which allows communities to participate in discussions on the day to day running of their local municipalities. This study was undertaken with the view that community participation is weak and it should be further strengthened in local municipalities.

The Dire Dawa City Administration Municipality is characterized by huge disparities between the community. Due to the huge disparity, it is difficult for the municipality to communicate with people about issues that relate to poverty alleviation and service delivery. The municipality’s primary task is to ameliorate the livelihood of people, in terms of service delivery such as infrastructure and environmental management (ibid). Furthermore, the

municipality’s duty is to overcome barriers which mock down the barriers of communication through the Integrated Development process. This could contribute to participation of communities and service providers to become fully engaged with the community in matters of community development.

The main focus of the study was to obtain an understanding or various forces and levels which influence decision making during participation and its relation to IDP. It focused on the local municipality structures, community development committees in wards, and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) operating in Dire Dawa city Administration.

1.3  Significance of the study

 

The majority of Dire Dawa city community members, Dire Dawa city administration Municipality officials and other sectors that constitute stakeholders in the integrated development planning preparation processes will be better positioned to understand task that inform increased community participation. This would provide knowledge and skills to support community participation during integrated development planning preparation processes. The support could be achieved in various ways: for example the provision of government subsidies in transport to overcome obstacles which result in the absence or limited community participation in kebeles' committees.

I chose to conduct this this study because I have noticed lack of participation by the community in terms of decision-making on the services they need. This study will assist Dire Dawa City community and the Local Municipality and each kebele officials to come with strategic planning which will lobby some of the stakeholders to contribute towards  supporting mechanisms for increased community participation during the IDP process. As a start some of the stakeholders who participate in business ventures introduced by Dire Dawa City Administration Municipality could assist in reducing levels of poverty. Mutual relationships could be enhanced amongst traditional leaders, ward councilors from all kebele's and municipal officials.

At Dire Dawa City Administration Municipality the local community appears to be not involved in policy formulation, designing of municipal programmes as well as implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes. The researcher argues that there is weak community participation in the Integrated Development Plan preparation process, which results in the failure of the

plan in promoting the livelihoods of the local people. The assumption is that effective participation by the local community is likely to award them some ownership of the plan and use it to address their realities. By and large the Dire Dawa City Administration area lacks basic services and amenities such as water and sanitation services, water reticulation, spring protection, the built environment as well as roads, buildings. According to the 1996 and 2010 revised IDP annual reports, Dire Dawa City Administration Municipality had high rates of unemployment and in most cases seasonal jobs were the closest form of job security. Therefore, this re-emphasises the need for research on the content of community participation in the Integrated Development Planning preparation process in Dire Dawa City Administration. Lack of participation has led to inadequate service delivery. It is the communities that can identify their problems thus their absence contribute to lack of services because the Municipality is not in a position to know the services the community needs.

1.4  The main objective

 

The main objective of this study is to examine community participation in the Integrated Development Planning process with a view to identifying reasons for weak participation in Dire Dawa City Administration Municipality.

Specific objectives

 

·       To assess community participation in the integrated development plan preparation process in the Dire Dawa City Administration community.

·       To examine the role of planners that facilitates community participation in the IDP preparation.

·       To identify how community participation can be strengthened in the preparation of the Integrated Development Plan

1.5  Research Questions

·       What are the factors which explain weak community participation in the Integrated Development Plan preparation process in Dire Dawa City Administration Municipality

·       How is community participation in the Integrated Development Planning process carried out at the Dire Dawa City Administration Municipality?

·       How do planners facilitate community participation in the Integrated Development Planning process at the Dire Dawa City Administration Municipality?

·       How can the community be encouraged to participate in the integrated development planning process in Dire Dawa City Administration Municipality?

1.6  Hypothesis

 

There is weak community participation in the Integrated Development Plan preparation process.

1.7  The research methodology

 

1.8.1  Research Design

 

Babbie and Mouton (2007:104) define a research design as “a plan or structured framework of how one intends to conduct the research process in order to solve the research problem”. A research design is a plan or blueprint of how you intend conducting the research (Mouton, 1996). This study determines the strengths and weaknesses of community participation in the Integrated Developing Planning process. It employs a qualitative research methodology. Respondents were used as source of data to develop concepts that will provide meaningful rationality, this research design plan and structure gives the research project validity and maximizes the research credibility.

The design approach chosen uses the accepted decision steps in this research process as a frame of reference. Chapter 1 to 5 provide an explanation of factors that presents the problem statement, objectives and aim of the study, the conceptual and theoretical framework that constitutes a community, participation, integration, development and planning. Furthermore, it yields powerful debates that lead to the understanding of participation in the IDP process. The research deals with the broad range of concepts or discourse that occurs across a broad spectrum of participation in the IDP preparation process. It is highly unlikely that all the factors discussed will ever occur in other local municipalities. For this reason, it is the task of the reader to decide which of the factors discussed are likely to affect or concern other local municipalities. This includes the validity of the findings. For the purpose of maximizing the validity of the research design the following five research decision were distinguished: (1) the topic, (2) problem formulation, (3) conceptualization, (4) data collection, and (5) analysis and interpretation of data.