Effectiveness Of Citizen Participation On Service Delivery In Local Government Authourities In Tanzania: A Case Of Dodoma City Council

ABSTRACT

The study investigated the effectiveness of citizen participation in service delivery in Local Government Authorities in Tanzania: a case of Dodoma City Council (DCC) with special focus on Nzuguni and Mtumba Wards. The study was guided by three specific objectives which included: assessing the current status of citizen participation on service delivery in Dodoma City Council (DCC), assessing the relationship between effective citizen participation and services delivery in DCC, and determining factors required for effective citizen participation in DCC’s on service delivery. The study employed cross-sectional research design. Three methods of data collection were used which included: survey method, interview and documentary review with support of data collection tools. These were open and close ended questionnaires, interview guide and documentary review checklist. A total of 77 respondents were employed to capture responses by questionnaires while 18 key informants were involved in interview session. Data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively with the support of SPSS version 20.0. The data were presented in frequencies, percentages, and tables and figures. The study found that, there was moderate citizen participation in service delivery where public meetings, seminars, trainings, project planning and implementations were mentioned as the ways citizens were being involved in decision making in the study area. The study concludes that, public awareness education on citizens’ participation is highly needed for effective citizen participation for improved service delivery in the LGAs like Dodoma City Council where the number of projects are in progress.