Project Activities and Beneficiaries' Economic Sustainability in Rwanda: A Case Study of World Vision Nutrition Centre Gicumbi District

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to discuss the economic sustainability of village nutrition project for Gicumbi district. Though the project has been running, there was a need to find out whether its activities would be sustainable after the project has ended. In order to achieve this purpose the researcher aimed at the following research objectives. 1) To determine the relationship of Community Health Workers participatory training on the economic sustainability of the beneficiaries.2) To assess the importance of child nutrition centre management training on economic sustainability of the beneficiaries.3) To identify the effect of home-based health management training on the economic sustainability of the beneficiaries. A sample of 50 respondents was selected using both probability and non-probability methods and a survey questionnaire were administered to them complemented with observation. The field data was edited and coded then analyzed using SPSS analysis tool. Findings revealed the following: All 47 respondents in Rutare sector benefited from trainings in 3 areas: Community health workers' training; Maternal and child health training; Health centre management training. The second finding was in regard to community health worker training activities, where regression results indicated that both the availability and reliability of community health workers had a significant effect on economic savings in Gicumbi district, meaning that the project activity had a positive influence on economic sustainability. Thirdly, the contingency of nutritional training center savings effect on the sector of respondents' residence proved to be important there was a significant effect of nutritional center activities on economic status improvement. This contingency study was for addressing research objective 2. Finally, the findings on Objective 3 suggested that the management skill impartation project to the nutritional center operators had a significantly positive bearing on economic sustainability of the residents.