Training and Its Impact on Rural Leaders’ Capacity Building. A case Study of Community Development Fund Project -Kassala state

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