EFFECT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES ON HOUSEHOLDS’ EMPOWERMENT: THE CASE OF GASABO DISTRICT, RWANDA

This paper aims to assess the effect of Community Development Programmes on households’ empowerment in Gasabo District of Kigali City, Rwanda. The level and the speed of economic growth in Rwanda are determined largely by community development programmes. Although, to achieve the goals of economic development in long run postulated in the vision 2020, several programmes have been implemented to improve families’ livelihoods mainly Rwandans’ in rural areas. The study sample size of households of 322 were employed. This research was employed both quantitative and qualitative techniques in data collection process, analysis presentation and discussion of findings. Basis on descriptive method employed, the findings show that the mean household size is 4.371 approximated to 4 persons per household with a standard deviation of 1.791 approximated to 2. The smallest family had 1 member and the largest had 11 members. This implies that households with big family size were more likely to participate in community development programmes to increase their income. Based on household revenues from agriculture production, handcraft and income from salaried employees among others, the results show also that total annual expenditure is less than total annual income. The study argues that households who had participated in any community development programme had increased their livelihoods. Based on the empirical results, the study is recommending the local government, have to give consideration to community development programmes, as well as encourage family planning both urban and rural areas so as to serve as rooter of social economic development and must also enhance their management ability and bring effort to reach the poor people in order to eradicate poverty and promote the welfare of the society