Community Based Infrastructural Development for Local Economic Development: Yeka Sub City

Abstract

Ethiopian cities are the fastest growing administrative units in the country adding 4.2 percent per year. Addressing Ethiopia’s infrastructure deficit will need a sustained annual expenditure of $5.1 billion over the next decade. Since this huge amount of money can’t be fulfilled by the government alone, the gap can be addressed by raising additional financing or adopting lower cost technologies developed by the community. In similar lines, the main objective of the study was to assess the contributions of community based infrastructural development (CBID) to local economic development (LED) in Yeka sub city accompanied with the specific objectives of determining the contribution of the project with regard to community level of local knowledge, examining project ownership and continuity, infrastructure needed that enhances local economic development, and challenges of CBID for LED. In addition, impact was assessed with strong CBIDs and with those less CBIDs using the variables level of income, peace and security, access to water, level of employment and level of economic development. Methodologically, the study used a survey method involving 345 sample residents which was taken from the purposely selected districts of Meserak Luke, Hayat Tafo and Fanuel of Woreda 13. Cross-sectional data was used since data was collected at one point of a time. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and a multiple regression methods. The findings revealed that the CBID are constructed based on the interest of community and most of them has participated in raising resources. Meetings and social associations have also contribution in promotion of CBID. In addition CBID were contributing to LED in creating employment, income generating and better access of the services of the CBID projects. Besides the above advantages, community mentioned that emphasis must be given to public toilet, green development, cobble stone and police station. However, some critical challenges like lack of start-up and follow-up support, lack of project quality, undedicated committees and un-coordination of other government office are challenging the projects. Likewise, the regression results show that in strong communities’ infrastructures like safe drinking water and level of peace and security has progressed. However, strong CBID is observed to have relativity negative effect on house rent (measure of house value), level of economic activity and employment benefit. The benefit of the CBID in those dimensions (house rent, economic development and employment) has increased in the less CBID community.