AN EVALUATION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ON THE VULNERABLE GROUPS IN KOGI CENTRAL, KOGI STATE – NIGERIA

Increasing transport fares and rising food prices following the Federal Government's removal of petroleum subsidies have adversely affected the livelihoods of vulnerable populations in Kogi Central. Job losses have intensified across both skilled and unskilled persons, setting in socioeconomic hardship, disproportionately impacting groups such as women, older persons, orphans, and widows. Community Development Projects (CDPs) implemented in the region may offer a viable policy and programmatic response by targeting poverty reduction and strengthening local empowerment. Drawing on Monaledi (2016), this study argues that the meaningful participation of vulnerable groups is critical for the sustainability and effectiveness of community interventions. However, despite the deployment of Community Development Projects (CDPs) by multiple agencies in Kogi Central, limited empirical research has examined the extent and character of vulnerable-group participation across the full project cycle. To address this gap, the study focuses on evaluating vulnerable-group involvement in these programmes and deriving lessons to inform future programmes and research work in the region.