An assessment of the sustainability factors of Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF 2) sub-projects; case study: Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF 2) sub-projects in Lefori sub-county, Moyo district

Abstract

This study was set to assess sustainability factors of NUSAF 2 sub projects. It particularly contributes to the understanding of the economic factors, social factors and ecological factors of the sustainability of NUSAF 2 sub-projects which was empirically limited to Lefori sub county, Moyo district as its specific objectives. The study adopted a descriptive and case study research design in which both quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using questionnaires and interview guide from 150 randomly members who were beneficiaries and the local community members and 20 purposively selected top management staff under NUSAF2. Descriptive statistics were processed from the quantitative data using SPSS Version 20.0. The study results showed that Poor economic knowledge of the beneficiaries on the project activities meant to address poverty (59.8%), lack of sound leadership in directing group members towards income earning goals (52.1%), and inadequate funding (59.0%) were among the economic factors that derailed sustainability of the NUSAF2 led projects. The study found the social factors of the sustainability as political interference in the process of implementation (56.4%), poor selection of beneficiaries (55.6%) and failure to follow prescribed initiatives operational manual (57.3%). The ecological factors found included unsupportive natural ecological phenomena (53.0%) and destruction of the natural environment as responsible for the unsustainability of the NUSAF2 projects (47.9%). The study concluded that economic factors like funding, leadership and poor business knowledge; social factors like political interference and selection criteria alongside ecological factors like the climatic conditions and the contributors to better environment were of crucial importance in the sustainability of government led or development partner’s projects. The study recommended among others that Government through the Office of the Prime Minister in collaboration with development and management practitioners need to design and adequately implement project management training sensitive to team building and leadership if sustainability of NUSAF projects was to be improved. The study also recommended that government officials and development workers should follow principles guide of their project if sustainability of project is to be achieved. The study also recommended that development practitioners in collaboration with the environmentalists need to design and institutional mechanisms that promote environmental protection by the local community if sustained benefits are to be realized from development projects.