Investigate Community and Stakeholder's Participation on Roads Maintenance Project: The Case study at Oromia Roads Authority in Jimma zone districts

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to investigate community and stakeholder's participation on roads maintenance project the case of Oromia Roads Authority in Jimma zone districts. In order to meet the objectives of the study, the researcher applied descriptive research design with mixed approach in which both quantitative and qualitative data were applied. The researcher employed questionnaire and interview so as to collect the desired data from the respondents. This study was conducted on the 367-sample size from four Jimma districts that were taken through simple random sampling technique. The collected data was analysed through frequency, percentages, mean and standard deviations. As the finding of this study revealed that, communities and stakeholders are not involved in the project activities, and in decision making to improve their environment. This study also finds out that, the community and stakeholders participation discouraged by local influential elders and community influential leaders. The finding of this study also showed that the work integration and cooperation between road authority and zone administration in achieving community and stakeholders’ participation on road maintenance it was highly low. The study find that challenges like lack of training , influence from eternal bodies , lack of interest , attitude of the project owners for the community and stake holders and others were hampered the actively involvement of the stake holders , The researcher recommended that woreda road authority need to give community and stakeholders a chance to involved in the project activities, by providing training on organizational structures, policies and laws that suit the adjusted the local situation. It is also recommended that the Regional and Zone Road authority will be able to create sustainable national framework that support the community participation on road maintenance.