Authors :
Umurerwa Claudette; Dr. Akumuntu Joseph; Magnifique Marie Chantal
Volume/Issue :
Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 9 - September
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/4stk59hh
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26sep651
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working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and
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Abstract :
Purpose:
This study examines how community participation influences local governance performance in Nyarugenge District,
Rwanda, focusing on consultative and collaborative participation, participation in planning processes, and participation in
performance contracts.
Design/Methodology/Approach:
The study adopted a mixed-methods, descriptive correlational design. A total of 384 participants were targeted,
comprising 379 questionnaire respondents and five interview participants. Of these, 372 completed questionnaires were
obtained and four interviews were conducted. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson
correlation and multiple regression, while qualitative data were analysed thematically.
Keywords :
Community Participation; Local Governance; Public Sector Performance; Participatory Governance; Decentralisation; Rwanda.
References :
- Creswell, J.W. and Creswell, J.D. (2018), Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches, 5th ed., SAGE Publications, Los Angeles, CA.
- Jäntti, A., Paananen, H., Kork, A.-A. and Kurkela, K. (2023), “Towards interactive governance: embedding citizen participation in local government”, Administration & Society, Vol. 55 No. 8, pp. 1529-1554, doi: 10.1177/00953997231177220.
- Krejcie, R.V. and Morgan, D.W. (1970), “Determining sample size for research activities”, Educational and Psychological Measurement, Vol. 30 No. 3, pp. 607-610, doi: 10.1177/001316447003000308.
- Kurkela, K., Kork, A.-A., Jäntti, A. and Paananen, H. (2023), “Citizen participation as an organisational challenge in local government”, International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 37 No. 1, pp. 124-140, doi: 10.1108/IJPSM-08-2022-0179.
- MINALOC (2024), Governance and Decentralisation Sector Strategic Plan 2024–2029, Ministry of Local Government, Kigali.
- Muriisa, R.K. and Auriacombe, C. (2024), “Innovating Imihigo: a decentralisation and indigenous governance mechanism in Rwanda”, Canadian Journal of African Studies, doi: 10.1080/00083968.2024.2358138.
- Nygren, A., Mbera, P., O'Brien, J. and others (2022), “Evaluating the success of decentralisation in facilitating the inclusion of Rwanda's marginalised”, The European Journal of Development Research, Vol. 34, pp. 2251-2271, doi: 10.1057/s41287-021-00485-y.
- OECD (2022), OECD guidelines for citizen participation processes, OECD Public Governance Reviews, OECD Publishing, Paris, doi: 10.1787/f765caf6-en.
- Pallant, J. (2020), SPSS survival manual: a step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS, 7th ed., Routledge, London.
- Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) (2025), Citizen Report Card 2025, Rwanda Governance Board, Kigali.
Purpose:
This study examines how community participation influences local governance performance in Nyarugenge District,
Rwanda, focusing on consultative and collaborative participation, participation in planning processes, and participation in
performance contracts.
Design/Methodology/Approach:
The study adopted a mixed-methods, descriptive correlational design. A total of 384 participants were targeted,
comprising 379 questionnaire respondents and five interview participants. Of these, 372 completed questionnaires were
obtained and four interviews were conducted. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson
correlation and multiple regression, while qualitative data were analysed thematically.
Keywords :
Community Participation; Local Governance; Public Sector Performance; Participatory Governance; Decentralisation; Rwanda.