Spatial Diversity Of Households’ Participation In Poverty Reduction Programmes In Tanzania: A Case Of Tanzania Social Action Fund (Tasaf)

ABSTRACT

Most development policies emphasize on households‟ participation in poverty reduction programmes to achieve poverty reduction outcomes. However, many studies argue that most of the participatory programmes adopted in Tanzania are ineffective. One of the major reasons for ineffectiveness is spatial diversity of households‟ participation in poverty reduction programmes. Unfortunately, none of such studies have identified the level and factors and effects of spatial diversity of household participation in poverty reduction programmes. With this regard the study aimed to: identify levels of spatial diversity on households‟ participation, examine the variation in spatial diversity of household participation in poverty reduction programmes, identify factors influencing spatial diversity of household participation and analyze influence of spatial diversity of households‟ participation in poverty reduction. The study involved a sample of 480 households from three districts namely: Rungwe, Mvomero and Bahi. Descriptive and inferential data analysis techniques were applied. The findings revealed that districts have significant variations in terms of socio-economic, such as: income, education, household size, services factors such as access to food, access to water, access to health services and access to education and physical factors such as agglomeration cost advantage, land resource, pasture, climate, distance to project area have showed a significant variation. On the other hand very few aspects or socio-economic factors namely: income and education, service factors such as: access to food, access to water, and access to health services and physical factors such as land resource, pasture and distance to project area were found to have a significant influence on households‟ participation in poverty reduction programmes. Also the study findings revealed that households‟ participation in poverty reduction programmes has significant influence on poverty reduction. Based on the findings number of policy measures and actions were recommended. These include: the need to change participatory system1 that accommodates vulnerable people who iii cannot afford to contribute cash, material and labour. It is recommended that poverty reduction programmes must design integrated participatory strategies able to accommodate spatial differences in terms of socio-economic, service and physical factors. The study recommends that socio-economic, service and physical factors should be taken into consideration when designing and implementing poverty reduction programmes