WOMEN’S PERCEPTION OF EFFECTS OF COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (CSDP) ON THEIR LIVELIHOOD ACTIVITIES IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was carried out to investigate the women’s perception of effects of Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) on their livelihood activities in Ondo State, Nigeria. A number of projects have executed in Ondo state using Community Driven Development approach under Community and Social Development Project (CSDP). However, women due to their important roles in the family and contribution to the national economy, the extent at which they have benefitted from the CSDP projects on livelihood activities must be known. Therefore, the broad objective of the study was to examine the perception of effects of Community and Social Development Projects (CSDP) on women’s livelihood activities in Ondo State and the specific objectives of the study included ascertaining the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents in the study area, identifying livelihood activities of the respondents, examining the level of awareness of the respondents on Community and Social Development Project, identifying the sources of information on CSDP, examining the perceived effects of Community and Social Development Project on respondents’ livelihood activities, examining the level of participation of women at various levels of Community and Social Development Project and determining the perceived factors affecting participation in CSDP in the study area. A multi-stage sampling technique was used for the study. Sixteen benefitting Local Government Areas in Ondo state were purposively selected, out of which three Local Government Areas (LGAs) were randomly selected. These are Ile-Oluji, Odigbo, and Owo Local Government Areas. From each of the selected Local Government Areas, four communities that have benefitted from Community and Social Development Project were purposively selected. Each community was divided into four geographical wards, from which two wards were purposively selected based on involvement in the CSDP projects. From each ward, five respondents were interviewed, making up to 4.1%of the respondents per each ward. Primary sources were used for this study. Data were collected with the aid of interview schedule and analyzed using frequency counts, percentage, mean, Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Chi square. The findings of the study revealed that (31.7%) of the respondents fell within the productive age of 41- 50 years and 85% of the respondents had formal education. Most of the respondents (73.0%) were ordinary members of Community Groups and 35% were relatively low income earners with the average income of ₦18,700. About 86.1% of the respondents had farming as their livelihood activities. The respondents were aware of provision of potable water and construction of roads with means of 2.88 and 2.53 respectively. The study further revealed that the respondents had positive perception of CSDP projects with grand means of4.01 in construction of potable water, 4.04 in construction or rehabilitation of road/bridges, 4.01 in construction of health and maternity facilities, 4.06in construction of hall/viewing centre, 4.21 construction of skill acquisition centre and 4.10 construction of market. The level of participation was low and this could be due to some perceived factors affecting participation in CSDP such as gender issue, lack of adequate information, inability to pay counterpart fund and level of income and so on. Results of the hypothesis testing using chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation showed that social status (X2Cal = 32.8 ⃰, p = 0.00), occupation (X2Cal = 38.8 ⃰, p = 0.00), age (r = 0.326 ⃰, p = 0.00) and family size(r = 0.258 ⃰, p = 0.00) influenced the respondents’ participation. The study further revealed that perception of effects of CSDP had positive influence on crop productions farm produce processing, gathering of wood for sales, petty trade and gathering of non-timber as livelihood of activities. In conclusion, most of the respondents fell within the age of 41-50years, were ordinary members of the community groups, had low income, were farmers and have positive perception of CSDP. Therefore, it was recommended, among others; that Community and Social Development Project officials should develop strategies that will enhance the mobilization of youths and middle aged women in the programme. Women should be encouraged to take up leadership position and that development strategies and plan should be well structured to improve the livelihood activities of these women especially agriculture.