Re-thinking community engagement in resettlement programmes: A systematic review and meta-analysis in Sub-Saharan Africa

Over the past few decades, governments in Sub-Saharan Africa have implemented decentralization initiatives through privatization and devolution to enhance public service delivery at regional, state, provincial, district, and municipal levels. These efforts aim to improve government competence, reduce programme costs, and enhance institutional effectiveness. However, significant challenges remain in effectively engaging communities and leveraging multi-stakeholder expertise for resource mobilization and economic development. This study employs the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, utilizing SCOPUS and Research4Life as primary databases, resulting in the selection of 16 articles for in-depth analysis. Key factors identified in the literature include participation, community satisfaction, collaboration, spatial issues, social capital, and community cohesion. These elements are interconnected, collectively contributing to effective community engagement. Failure to address these factors results in ineffective engagement and, consequently, poor livelihoods. The study also highlights a methodological trend where researchers prefer qualitative methods over mixed methods for data collection. However, the use of mixed methods could provide more comprehensive and generalizable insights, crucial for successful community development programmes. The findings indicate a lack of extensive research on community engagement in resettlement programmes in emerging economies within Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, there is an urgent need for further research to explore all facets of community engagement in resettlement initiatives, with the goal of fostering sustainable livelihoods, reducing poverty, and creating livable post-displacement environments.