Influence of Social Capital on Performance of Social Amenities Projects in Rural Areas of Tanzania: A Case of Water Projects in Puge Division, Tabora
Abstract
The development of rural areas is measured on various indicators and various parameters. Social amenities are some of those indicators that rural development can be measured. Social capital is linked to the development of rural areas. However, its role in the development of social amenities is still a paradox that this study intended to divulge. In light of this, the study sought to evaluate the impact of social capital on the performance of social amenities projects in Puge Division of Tabora in Tanzania. In this case, only the water project was considered. The study was guided by three objectives namely: evaluating the way structural social capital influences performance of social amenities projects of Puge Division in Tabora, assessing the degree to which relational social capital influence the performance of social amenities projects of Puge Division in Tabora and evaluating the influence of cognitive social capital on the performance of social amenities projects of Puge Division in Tabora. To effectively pursue this study, a descriptive research design was used. This enabled the collection of data through administering of the interviews and questionnaires. The validity of the research instruments was met by involving the experts in evaluation of the data collection instruments. The research project supervisor and panelists were involved in the scrutiny of the data collection instruments. The questionnaires had a Cronbach's Alpha coefficient of 0.985 signifying that the instrument was reliable. The data was collected from a sample of 145 participants who included 133 Community members to which questionnaires were administered and an interview was conducted 1 District Water Engineer, 5 Water Committee Members, 3 Ward Executive Officers and 3 Village Executive Officers. Descriptive statistics basically frequencies were used to analyze quantitative data whereas thematic analysis was utilized to analyze the qualitative data. It was found that the level of performance of social amenities projects including the water projects in Puge Division was not satisfactory. The results indicated that some of the aspects of structural social capital were reported to influence the performance of social amenities projects positively and some do not. Moreover, it was established that relational social capital had a positive influence on the performance of social amenities project and lastly a negative influence of cognitive social capital on performance of social amenities projects was also reported. Specifically, more than 83.3 per cent of the participants indicated that they do not meet their obligations in making the water projects extremely well. Also, the results revealed that most of the aspects examined in the three forms of structural social had a positive influence on the performance of social amenities projects. The study recommended that there should be collective and practical measures including but not limited to policy reform and local community building to create awareness on the aspects of social capital and their significant influence on the performance of social amenities projects which are meant to improve their livelihoods. This may increase the level of involvement of the members of communities in all processes involved in the development of water projects and other amenities projects.
Keywords: Performance, social amenities, Water Projects, social capital, Puge division, Tabora, Tanzania
References
Alan. K. (2006). Social Capital, the social economy and community development. Community Development Journal Vol 41 No 2 April 2006 pp. 160– 173
Ale, M. O., Abisuwa, T. A., Olagunagba, F. O., &Ijarotimi, O. (2011). Rural infrastructural development, food security and city congestion in Nigeria. Journal of research in national development (JORIND), 1(9), 124-130
Colletta, N. J. and M. L. Cullen (2000), The Nexus between Violent Conflict, Social Capital and Social Cohesion: Case Studies from Cambodia and Rwanda, Social Capital Initiative: Working Paper No. 23, World Bank.
Collier, P. (1998), Social Capital and Poverty, Social Capital Initiative: Working Paper No. 4, World Bank.
David W (2019) Social Capital: Definition & Theory. Retrieved from https://study.com/academy/lesson/social-capital-definition-theory-quiz.html
Dawson, C. (2007). A practical guide to research methods: A user-friendly manual for mastering research techniques and projects (3rd ed.). Oxford, UK: How to Content.
Denscombe, M. (1998), The good research guide for small scale research projects. Buckingham Open University: Sage publication of Department Working Paper No.179, Paris.
Dumlao, S. N. and M. Fincham‟s (2004), “Social Capital”, The Centre for the Study of African Economies, Working Paper Series, No. 214, http://www.bepress.com/csae/paper214 accessed Feb 2019.
Emmanuel O. M (2009). Social Capital and Rural Economic Development in Western Province of Kenya: An Empirical Analysis. PhD Thesis- Kenyatta University
Falk, I., & Lesley H. (1998). Indicators of Social Capital: social capital as the product of local interactive learning processes." Pp. 23. Launceston: Centre for Research and Learning in Regional Australia.
Feldman, M., Hadjimichael, T., Kemeny, T., &Lanahan, L. (2014). Economic development: A definition and model for investment. Unpublished manuscript, Department of Public Policy, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
Frankfort-Nahmias, Chava&Nachimias, David (1996). Research Methods in the Social Sciences (5th ed): London: St. Martin Press
Fukuyama, F. (1996). Trust: The social virtues and the creation of prosperity. New York, NY: The Free Press.
Fukuyama, F. (1999), The Great Disruption: Human Nature and the Reconstitution of Social Order, London, Profile Books.
Gary P. G., Steven C. D., &Marcouiller. D. W., (2005) Amenities and Rural Development: Theory, Methods and Public Policy
Georg Wiesinger, (2007). The importance of social capital in rural development, networking and decision making in rural areas. Revue de Géographie Alpine | Journal of Alpine Research [Online], 95-4 2007
Ghafoor, A. (2000). Public infrastructure in developing countries: The case of electric power and telecommunications industries in Pakistan. Aldershot. UK: Ashgate Publish.
Gorton, M., Saner, J., Peshevski, M., Bosev, D., Shekerinov, D., Quarrie, S. (2010, 25-27 August). The dimensions of social capital and rural development: Evidence from water communities in the Republic of Macedonia. Paper presented at the 118th seminar of the EAAE, Ljubljana, Slovenia. Retrieved from
https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/94916/2/Gorton- The_dimensions_of_social_capital_and_rural_development-106.pdf
Grootaert, C. (1998). Social capital: the missing link? Social Capital Initiative, Working Paper No. 3, The World Bank.
Hanka M. J., & Trent A. E (2018) Social Capital and Economic Development: A Neighborhood Perspective. Journal of Public and Nonprofit Affairs. Volume 11, Issue 4 (2018)
Haq, M.A., Hassan, S.M., & Ahmad, K. (2014). Community participation and sustainability of water supply program in District Faisalabad, Pakistan. Journal of Quality and Technology Management, X(II), 125-137.
Hean, S., Sarah C., & Angus F, (2003). The M-C-M‟ cycle and social capital.‟ Social Science Medicine 56: 1061-72.
Huntoon, Laura. 2001. „Government use of nonprofit organizations to build social capital.‟ The Journal of Socio-Economics 30: 157.
Isaac, S., & Michael, W. B. (1995). Handbook in research and evaluation. San Diego, CA: Educational and Industrial Testing Services.
JICA (2011). The study on rural water supply in Tabora region in the united republic of Tanzania, p 1. Retrieved from open_jicareport.jica.go.jp › pdf
Kilpatrick, Sue. (2000). How social capital facilitates learning outcomes for small family businesses. The University of Tasmania.
Laah, E.D., Adefila, J. O., & Yusuf, R.O. (2013). Community participation in sustainable infrastructural development in Riyom Area, Plateau State of Nigeria. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development 4(19), 83-93.
Liu, A.Q, & Terry B. (2003) Social capital and participation in community improvement activities by elderly residents in small towns and rural communities. Rural Sociology 68: 343.
Manggat, I., Zain, R., & Jamaluddin, Z. (2018). The Impact of Infrastructure Development on Rural Communities: A Literature Review. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 8(1), 647–658.
Manski, C. F. (2000), “Economic Analysis of Social Interactions,” Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 14, 115-136.
Manyasa, E. O. (2007), Ethnic Conflicts, Social Capital and Economic Empowerment of Rural Women in Kenya, a Research Project Report for the 17th OSSREA Gender Issues Research Grant, Unpublished.
Manyasa, E.O (2009) Social Capital and Rural Economic Development in Western Province Of Kenya: An Empirical Analysis. PhD Thesis Kenyatta University
Martin K. (1991) Modern Development Theory. In: Martin K. (eds) Strategies of Economic Development. Palgrave Macmillan, London
Matula, P. D., Kyalo, D. N., Mulwa, A. S., & Gichuhi, L. W. (2018). Academic research proposal writing: Principles, concepts and structure. Nairobi, Kenya: Applied Research & Training Services.
Membiela M, & Pena-López (2017). Clarifying the concept of social capital through its three perspectives: Individualistic, communitarian and macro-social. European Journal of Government and Economics 6 (2)146-170
Mkulu, D. G., Adhiambo, J.M., & Katundano, T. (2017). Workplace administrative strategies for retention of academic staff in private universities in Southern Highlands Zone, Tanzania. American Journal of Sociological Research, 7(2), 77-84.
Mugenda, O and Mugenda, A (1999). Research Methods; Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Nairobi: Act Press.
Obisesan, A., & Famous, O. (2016). Factors affecting water supply in Owah-Abbi, Delta State. Open Journal of Social Science, 4, 137-146.
Onyx, Jenny, & Paul Bullen. (2000) Sources of social capital. Pp. 105 – 135 in Social capital and public policy in Australia, edited by Ian Winter. Melbourne: National Library of Australia.
Peter G., & Nkambule, S.E. (2012). Factors affecting the sustainability of rural water schemes in Swaziland. Journal of Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 50(52), 196-204.
Ploch, L. A. (1976). Community development in action. Journal of Community Development Society, 7(7), 5-15.
Pretty, J. (2003), Social Capital and Connectedness: Issues and Implications for Agriculture, Rural Development and Natural Resource Management in ACP Countries. Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) Working Document No.8032 http://www.cta.int/pubs/wd8032/WD8032.pdf, accessed on 09.03.2019.
Productivity Commission, (2003). Social Capital: Reviewing the Concept and its Policy Implications, Research Paper, AusInfo, Canberra.
Putnam, R. D. (1993). “The prosperous community: Social capital and public life.” The American Prospect 4
Sanders, H., and Fitts, J. (2011). Assessing the sustainability of rural water supply programs: A case study of Pagawa, Tanzania. Retrieved from https://dukespace.lib.duke.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/10161/3649/Fitts_Sanders_MP.p df
Schmid, A. Allan. (2000). “Affinity as social capital: its role in development.” The Journal of Socio-Economics 29: 159.
Shahrukh R. K., Zeb R., &Sajid K (2007). Harnessing and Guiding Social Capital for Rural Development. Palgrave Macmillan. New York
National Malay Economic Conference of Malaysia PERKEM, 8 (3), 1536-1545.
Sullivan, A., & Sheffrin, M. S. (2003). Economics: Principles in action. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Tadesse, A., Bosona, T., & Gebresenbet, G. (2013). Rural water supply management and sustainability: The case of Adama Area, Ethiopia. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 5, 208-221.
Taylor, D. L., Kawahita, T. M., Cairnross, S, &Ensink, J. H. (2015). The impact of water, sanitation and hygiene interventions to control cholera: A systematic review. Plus One, 10(8), 1-19.
Trigilia, C. (2001). Social capital and local development. European Journal of Social Theory, 4, 427-442. DOI:10.1177/13684310122225244
Twelvetrees, A. (2008). Community work (4th ed). London: Palgrave Macmillan. UNESCO (2002). Social Capital and Poverty Reduction, Place de Fontenoy, Paris, France
Uslaner, Eric M. (2001). “Volunteering and social capital: how trust and religion shape civic participation in the United States.” Pp. 104 – 117 in Social Capital and Participation in Everyday Life, edited by Eric M. Uslaner. London: Routledge
Verial D, (2008). Questionnaire Validation Methods, Hill Side Incorp California USA Catholic Archdiocese of Tabora. (2018). Project implementation report. Tabora, Tanzania: Tanganyika Missionary Press.
Whittington, D., Davis, J., Prokopy, L., Komives, K., Thorsten, R., Lukacs, H.,...Wakeman, W. (2009). How well is the demand-driven, community management model for rural water supply systems doing? Evidence from Bolivia, Peru and Ghana, page 696. Water Policy, 11, 696-718.
Wollebaek, D, & Selle. P (2002). Does Participation in Voluntary Associations Contribute to Social Capital? The Impact of Intensity, Scope, and Type. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 31 (1): 32-61.
Woolcock, M. (2002). Social capital in theory and practice: Where do we stand? In: Social Capital and Economic Development: Well-being in Developing Countries, Isham, Kelly, Ramaswamy (eds.), Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham. http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781781950388.00011
