Effects of Motivating Factors of Community Participation in Project Sustainability in Rwanda: A Case Study of the Climate Resilient Post-Harvest Agribusiness Support Project (PASP) IFAD-Funded Project in Rwanda

In Rwanda, Project sustainability has always been a serious issue and there is no much documented knowledge on factors that motivate community members to participate in development in the community driven development approach specifically in Rwandan context. This study was to assess the motivating factors which promote community participation in project sustainability in Rwanda. The research used descriptive research design. Therefore, the sample size was derived from population of 155, 535 targeted beneficiaries of PASP project, cooperative managers (35) under the support of PASP, Cooperative support officers (68) from Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF) who are under the support of PASP grant also PASP field staff (12) was contacted during this research study. The researcher was used structured questionnaires to collect data from the targeted beneficiaries and other related stakeholders of PASP project. Primary data was used for data collection. Most of respondents agreed that Community Consultation influence the Project Sustainability of PASP Project. Participation of community during project implementation influences the PASP Project Sustainability at the level of 56.2 % and 29.6 % respectively. This means that during the period of project implementation; Post-Harvest and Agri-Business Support Project accommodated its beneficiaries suggestions at 85.8 % and this accommodation of beneficiaries suggestions contributed to the performance of Post-Harvest and Agri-Business Support Project. Communication has influenced the PASP Project Sustainability, 100 % of respondents were appreciated and 97.2 % were strong agreed on how communication is very important for the PASP Project Sustainability while 2.8 % were agreed. Community consultation, community awareness, community development interest and community involvement in planning and evaluation determines by 87.9 % to post-harvest agribusiness support project (PASP) IFAD-funded project. This is as given by the R square value of 0.879. The adjusted R square value is 0.805 which shows that the study result is 80.5 %, this show the reliability of the study. ANOVA results further show that community consultation, community awareness, community development interest and community involvement in planning and evaluation explains project sustainability funded by IFAD-project. The sig value (0.000) less than the level significance (0.05). The F-statistics (F=214.145) is far greater than the P-value (0.000) hence a further confirmation that aspects of community consultation, Community awareness, community development interest and community involvement in planning and evaluation significantly influenced the project sustainability of Post-Harvest and Agribusiness Support Project. The PASP Project has been successfully achieved its goal. The results shown in chapter four, shown that the majority of beneficiaries have been participated on community consultation and community awareness. PASP Project staff should continue and improve on working closely with beneficiaries because, working together with beneficiaries have a significant impact in project sustainability.