Abstract:
This study aimed at investigating the factors influencing the sustainability of donor-funded
community development projects in Tanzania, focusing on the case of Rural Initiatives for
Participatory Agricultural Transformation (RIPAT) projects implemented in Karatu and Arusha
(DC). The main research objective of the study was to identify the existing gaps in
understanding the post-donor support sustainability of RIPAT projects and how these projects
can continue to thrive and deliver lasting impact in the absence of external funding.
The study employed the mixed-methods approach whereby by both qualitative and
quantitative data for factors affecting sustainability of community development projects were
collected and analyzed. The study targeted population comprised of beneficiaries of the two
RIPAT Projects in Karatu and Arusha DC. Quantitative data were analyzed using the SPSS
software while the qualitative data after being summarized were analyzed thematically.
Research found that beneficiary involvement, project approach and level of donor support are
essential to donor-funded community development project sustainability. The majority of
respondents actively participated in RIPAT projects, showing ownership and dedication.
Beneficiaries participated in project selection, training, and committee leadership. The
approach encourages extensive involvement promotes responsibility and empowerment,
evolvement of project without dependency to the project actors NGO, resulted to the long-term
success. Technical, material and financial support from the donor throughout the project
lifetime were essential for project sustainability.
The study concludes and recommends that beneficiary involvement helps them comprehend
the technologies and practices introduced to them, making it easy for them to continue
practicing after donor funding ends, ensuring project sustainability, it further concludes that
project approach lay the foundation for the sustainability of the project after the end of donor
support and that donor support in the project accelerate the successful performance of the
project during and after the end of donor support hence project become sustainable.
