Community Participation in the Planning and Execution of Rural Development Projects in Benue State, North Central Nigeria

Community participation is widely recognized as a determinant of sustainable rural development project outcomes, yet its quality and depth in Nigerian rural projects remain poorly documented. This study examines community participation practices in the planning and execution of rural development projects in Benue State, North Central Nigeria. A descriptive survey design will recruit 200 community members, community development officers, local government project coordinators, and NGO representatives from 15 completed and ongoing rural water, road, and health facility projects across Gboko, Makurdi, and Otukpo local government areas. The International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Spectrum will be used to categorize levels of participation. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Existing evidence from North Central Nigeria shows that top-down project design without genuine community input is a major cause of project resistance and low sustainability. Findings will inform participatory project design guidelines for Benue State local government authorities and NGOs operating in the region. Keywords: community participation, rural development, Benue State, sustainability, participatory planning