EVALUATION OF THE UNDP-SUPPORTED URBAN UPGRADING AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECT OF ALHAJ YOUSIF AREA IN KHARTOUM STATE, SUDAN

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the different components of the UNDP-supported Urban Upgrading and Poverty Alleviation Project of Alhaj Yousif area in Khartoum State, Sudan. Perceived benefit from the Urban Upgrading and Poverty Alleviation Project by the beneficiaries was the dependant variable, and the independent variables in the analysis included age, sex , marital status, level of educational, family size, main occupation, participation in project planning, forms of finance, marketing channel, participation in training programs, production level, and income before participation in the project. A sample of (50) persons (25 males and 25 females) represented the project's beneficiaries in Al Haj Yousif area - members of Al Rahma Voluntary Society. The primary data were collected by means of individual interviews involving use of a structured schedule. The secondary data were collected from the Head Office of Urban v Upgrading and Poverty Alleviation Project and from other project sources. Data analysis involved use of descriptive statistical methods, including t-tests for determining the statistical significant of observed differences. The study results showed the presence of significant differences between the male and female beneficiaries in terms of age, educational level, participation in project planning and income before beneficiary’s participation in project activities. No significant differences were found between males and females in family size, attitude towards loans repayment period, savings amount, access to project training services and benefit from the training received from the project. The results indicated that the impact of the Urban Upgrading and Poverty Alleviation Project among the beneficiaries was affected by limitations in access to finance services. On the light of the study findings, it is recommended that poverty alleviation projects, like the UNDP-supported Urban Upgrading and Poverty Alleviation Project should cater for: vi 1. Assisting governmental capacity building through provision of more targeted assistance to improve national policy making and institutional reform. 2. Assisting national poverty programs by provision of adequate funding and financial services to the beneficiaries. 3. Use of a bottom-up approach and strengthening the role of community-based organizations in the management of poverty eradication projects. The main results are: 1. The mean scores on age group for males and females reflected no significant differences. Both males and females benefiting from UPAP were mostly in the 35- 40 years age group. 2. Most of respondents had primary education, but the education of males was relatively significantly higher. 3. Income before participation in UPAP for the larger segment of the respondents (46%) was under 100,000 SDG per month. vii 4. The majority of respondents (98%) practiced saving of money for increasing their capital resources. 5. All of respondents had collaterals provided as guarantees to get financed by UPAP. This reflects elimination of the poorest from project's poverty alleviation activities. 6. The types of income generating activities which were financed by the project were: Production projects, service projects and commercial projects. 7. UPAP training resulted into increased productivity among 82% of the beneficiaries, and 70 percent of the training recipients reported improvement in their marketing abilities. 8. Income after participation in UPAP for most of the respondents (78%) had increased substantially. viii