Analysis of Constraints to the Delivery of Rural Development Programmes of Selected Non Governmental Organizations in Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the challenges faced by selected Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)-(Evangelical Church of West Africa-People Oriented Development (ECWA-POD) and Country Women Association of Nigeria, (COWAN)) in the delivery of rural development programs in rural communities of Plateau State, Nigeria. The comparison of the factors which explain variations in the constraints affecting the selected NGOs was examined. A total of 60 respondents made up of staff of the respective organizations were purposively selected from four Local Government Areas of the State. The data were analysed through the use of descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, mean, standard deviation and inferential statistics like factor analysis and T-test statistics. The organizations devoted considerable efforts in agricultural, health, community development, human resource development, trading, technology and industrial promotion programmes. The study revealed that the major constraint faced by the NGOs was inconsistent release of donor fund. Four factors which had association with the underlining constraints for both organizations were isolated: inadequate funds, slow loan repayments, bad roads/ terrains and inconsistency of donor funds having coefficients 0.48, 0.70, 0.55, 0.61 and 0.48 respectively. The results of the t-test showed significant differences (t= -2.12, p≤0.05; t = 2.11, p≤0.05; t = -16.86, p≤0.05) in the mean perception of constraints faced by the organizations in-terms of inadequate manpower, lack of government support and slow rate of loan repayment respectively. It was therefore recommended that the organizations should consider self-sustainability plans and seek for alternative sources of steady funding rather than depending entirely on donor funds in the implementation of their rural development programmes.