FACTORS AFFECTING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE OFROAD DEVELOPMENT IN NEKEMTE TOWN

ADVISOR: KEDIDA SONTO (PhD) This study is entitled as factors affecting community participation in urban infrastructure development in the case of road development in Nekemte town. The main objective of this study is to assess factors that affect community participation in urban infrastructure development in the case of road development in Nekemte town. The total population of the study is 20,870 households residing in the six sub-city found in Nekemte town from which a total of 256 sample size was determined for data collection using semi-structured questionnaire through the survey method. The collected data were analyzed by both descriptive analysis and regression analysis using Statistical Package for Social Science version 20 software. The finding revealed that 70.3% of respondents were participants of urban infrastructure development whereas 29.7% of respondents were not the participants of urban infrastructure development. The finding also shows that age of household head, home ownership, the total annual income of household, community leaders active participation with city administrators, the prevailing governance situations on community participation, access to all-weather road to different service centers; access to awareness training on community participation were variables that increases community participation on infrastructure development whereas the absence of any organized units that provide support on community participation reduces community participation on infrastructure development in the study. The study summarizes that the age, home ownership, the total annual income, community leaders active participation with city administrators, prevailing governance situations, access to all-weather road and access to awareness training are variables enhances community participation on infrastructure development. Based on the study findings, the researcher recommended that any public policy that enhances the socio-economic status in general and the income and home ownership of household in particular, conducive governance of community participation and institutional setups that enhances community participation on urban infrastructure development are advised. Keywords: community participation, infrastructure development, regression, road development, Nekemte