Strengthening Community Voices: A Participatory Governance Approach to Sustainable Development
Author : Rotele Kajol Chandan Singh and Dr. Anil Kumari
Abstract :
This study examines the effectiveness of participatory governance as a means to empower marginalised communities and achieve sustainable development outcomes. A mixed-methods approach was implemented across 30 communities over a twelve-month period, utilising multi-stage stratified sampling and thorough data collection through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and participatory observation. The findings reveal significant progress in community engagement and development outcomes, with participation rates increasing from 23% to 68% and project sustainability rates rising from 43% to 86%. The results demonstrate that participatory governance mechanisms greatly enhanced community resilience, evidenced by a 62% improvement in crisis response time and a 167% rise in community-led conservation initiatives. The analysis revealed notable correlations between participatory engagement and sustainable development outcomes (r = 0.86), with empowered communities showing improved performance across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. The study acknowledges several challenges, including power dynamics and capacity limitations, and presents effective strategies for tackling these issues through diverse engagement methods and comprehensive capacity-building initiatives. The study further revealed that communities utilising participatory frameworks achieved a 185% increase in external resource mobilisation and a 173% enhancement in adaptive capacity. The findings contribute significantly to our understanding and implementation of participatory governance in vulnerable communities, suggesting a robust framework for achieving sustainable development through the empowerment of these communities. The results show that when participatory governance is implemented effectively, taking into account local conditions and supported by appropriate capacity-building efforts, it serves as a strong framework for enhancing community empowerment and advancing sustainable development.
Keywords :
Participatory governance, community empowerment, sustainable development, vulnerable communities, community resilience.
