Capacity Building of Community-Based Organizations and Their Contribution to Community Development: A Case Study of Traditional Authority Ngabu-Chikwawa District, Malawi

Author(s): Frank Mussa, Dr. T Marirajan and Dr. T Velmurugan

Abstract:

Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) play a crucial role in community development. However, for these CBOs to function effectively, they require various capacity-building initiatives. Despite the acknowledged impact of CBO capacity building in the literature, many CBOs still lack sufficient capacity. One major reason for this is a lack of understanding of how CBO capacity-building initiatives can contribute to community development. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of CBO capacity-building initiatives on community development, focusing on CBOs in T/A Ngabu. The study employed mixed methods research to gain an in-depth understanding of the findings. A sample of 12 CBOs (six with extensive capacity-building initiatives and six with minimal capacity-building initiatives) was selected from Traditional Authority Ngabu using a purposive sampling procedure. Data was collected through focus group discussions, CBO record books, government documents, observations, and physical verification. The data was analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 20.The study’s findings revealed that capacity building of CBOs positively impacts their service delivery to the community. Additionally, it was discovered that CBOs that receive or implement more capacity-building initiatives, with the help of partners, are better able to execute more community development initiatives. However, due to the small sample size, the findings cannot be generalized to other regions but can serve as a basis for future research on similar topics. Finally, it is recommended that future research be conducted in more Traditional Authorities and districts. Above all, the findings of this study will assist development practitioners in creating effective community development approaches that meet the needs of the community.

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Pages: 42-48     |    2 View     |    0 Download