The Roles and Challenges of Good Governance in Ensuring Local Development: The Case of Agarfa Woreda of Bale Zone in Oromia Regional State

The purpose of the study is to investigate the Roles and Challenges of Good Governance in Ensuring Local Development: The Case of Agarfa Woreda of Bale Zone in Oromia Regional State. The research employed explanatory and descriptive research design. The researcher used both primary and secondary sources. The data collected from 349 households, 4 leaders of sample kebeles and 14 leaders of pillar sector for development. Closed-ended questionnaires along with in-depth interviews were used for the purpose of data collection. Agarfa woreda is chosen by purposive sampling technique. Further, to make an inference that can be generalized for the study the simple random technique was used to select the households. Furthermore, census sampling technique was used to select leaders. Then, the quantitative data was analyzed through frequency, percentage and mean. Further, the study analyzed using multiple regressions, because the dependent variable is continuous. Besides, the interview questions also analyzed using descriptive narrations through concurrent triangulation strategy. Based on this, the study found that the households have satisfied with the existing local development in the study area. Regarding the existence of good governance practice, the study concluded that employee failed to provide the services with good spirits. The study also concluded that offices failed to provide service at the designed and promised time. As it is indicated in the study, the administrations failed to provide regular and clear information to the public about its decisions, achievements, services and budgets. Employees are unable to communicate effectively with service. As it indicated in the study employees failed to provide punctual service, lack to treat customers in a friendly manner, failed to treat customer with great respect and poorly handled customer’s complaints effectively. The study also concluded that bureaucracy, political interference, misuse of funds and nepotism affect full practices of good governance. Hence, the overall result established that responsiveness had large significant effect on the level of satisfaction of households in local development. The study also indicated the participation had medium significant effect on the level of satisfaction of households in local development followed by accountability followed by transparency. The study recommended all dwellers’ of the woreda should participate from planning, execution, and evaluation. The woreda expected to establish a mechanism that enables the officials to be accountable for their decision and action. Finally, NGO in woreda should focused on future studies that can<br> 3