Abstract:
Many national and international organizations focused on boosting the capacity
of individuals and their development through subjecting them to capacity
building training courses. One of those organizations is the Community
Development Fund (CDF). The CDF project started its work in Kassala state in
2008. The aim of this research was to investigate the impact of capacity building
training carried out by the CDF project to the leaders to participate with their
communities in the development of their societies.
The study was conducted in the two localities of Khashmelgirba and
Wadelhileow. The study directly targeted local leaders subjected to the training
provided by the CDF project. The total numbers of selected trainees were (80) in
the two localities. However, to cater for the opinions of the other villagers and
officials in the area, the study opted for group discussions and semi-structured
interviews with the two latter categories. So, the total number of the sample was
164 informants.
The study utilized both primary and secondary data. The primary data was
collected through structured interview, focus group interviews, key informant
interviews, and observations. Whereas, secondary data was collected from CDF
reports, government reports, other relevant documents and the internet. The
collected quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS. While, qualitative data was
analyzed through transcription grouping, pattern finding and summarizing. The
study concluded the following:
• Rural leaders have benefited from the training programs prepared by the
Community Development Fund in building their capacity.
• The impact of the project on both leaders and communities was very good.
Hence, villagers confirmed that they benefited from the CDF and local
leaders in identifying their needs, choosing their projects, participating in
projects' planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating those
projects.
Based on the finding, the following recommendations were suggested:
• Local leaders should prepare training in the form of mini courses targeting
specific community segments based on their capabilities and available
resources.
• Developmental organizations must deal realistically with the targeted
communities, and be aware of the needs of communities to meet their
priorities and to involve them in it.
• Commitment of local governments’ institutions to duties with credibility
and transparency with benefit communities.
IV
