Community based organization and eradication of poverty: A case of Kawempe division

Abstract

The study was set to establish the role of community based organization and eradication of poverty a case of Kawempe division; it was guided by the following study objectives which included, To establish the role of Community based organizations in Kawempe Division, to investigate the Poverty Eradication strategies/efforts in Kawempe Division and to find out the challenges hindering poverty eradication in Kawempe Division. The study population was 40 respondents chosen from the leadership structure and directly mandated to manage CBOs in Kawempe Division and have the relevant information on community based organizations. Due to limited time and resources, a sample size of (36 people) was selected from the study population using Krejcie & Morgan, (1970) table. The study adopted a cross sectional study design-case study design. The study was largely quantitative although, qualitative techniques were also employed to address the gap left by quantitative methods. The study used both primary and secondary data collection methods as complementary. The study findings portray that the grassroots community based organization has a tremendously contribution towards the human and natural resources development and management in Kawempe division. CBOs are playing essential role for humanitarian development through joint analysis and seeking solution through different seminars and workshop, joint social activities, and application of socio-economic projects. The respondents feel that skills development trainings in agriculture and livestock imparted by CBOs empowered them to take rational farm and household decisions. One explanation for the widening scope of poverty among communities is the flux of changes due to rapid developments in technology which makes traditional reliance on experience as a source of knowledge inadequate and often irrelevant. However, some limitations was observed in the CBO effori to poverty eradication for i.e. leaving out the ultra-poor, partial and sub-divided working periphery, area based differences in activities/projects, differentiating outside target people and weak relationship, participating in commercial activities, supporting political parties etc. the study made the following recommendations, the government should Recognize women’s role and their contribution to the rural economy and household income in particular and include them in the future interventions grassroots organization. The selected CBOs played positive role towards the socioeconomic development of the research area. The main areas in which they played their role are education, health, trainings and construction. CBO~s should come up and assist the community to discover their potentials and also mobilize community to be self-reliant. Therefore, the final outcome of community development is the independence of the community from external agents in formulating its agenda and managing its affairs. The government should come up and help with the idea of capacity building, where people get involved in human capital training, transferring of authority from donor to recipient and receive supports from stakeholders. When people become fully empowered, they are able to contribute toward sustainable development