Community participation in watershed management: analysis of the status and factors affecting community engagement in the upper Gibe basin, South West Ethiopia

Abstract

A lack of appreciation of community participation is one of the factors constraining the sustainability of the watershed management program in Ethiopia. A household survey of 304 household heads, focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used to collect data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results of the overall community participation index value showed a moderate level of participation. There was variation in the level of participation by the community at different stages of watershed management. The results of logistic regression indicated that overall community participation was significantly affected by the frequency of extension contact, access to credit services, access to off/non-farm income sources and group membership. Thus, program planners should give due consideration to variations in the level of involvement by the community in different activities of watershed programs at different stages and the subsequent factors for future sustainable watershed development planning.