CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION AND CONTRACTS PERFORMANCE IN BUGESERA DISTRICT, RWANDA
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of citizens’ participation and contracts performance in Rwanda with the particular goals: to determine the effect of involvement of local community on contract performance in Bugesera District; to examine the effect of clarification of responsibilities on contract performance in Bugesera District; to establish the effect of team collaboration on contract performance in Bugesera District and to evaluate the effect of government accountability on contract performance in Bugesera District. The research also compared two variables which are independents and dependents variables. A case study was described as analysis of citizens’ participation and contracts performance, researcher acquired knowledge regarding the study. All the respondents from the population of Bugesera District to respond all research questionnaires. This research used questionnaires to collect data, as far as this study was concerned, the population was comprised by respondents of Bugesera District in different departments targeting 162 respondents. To describe target population of a study as the point of focus from which a generalization was made regarding the research findings. Thus a sample size was 162 respondents. The study used primary and secondary data to get all information needed in this study. A research instrument is a tool that was used by researcher to collect data for a study. Questionnaire technique, interview technique and documentary technique have been used. Validity; the validity was tested by using Content Validity Index (CVI) through SPSS version 20. Reliability was done by using Cronbach’s Alpha Model on SPSS version 20. Piloting was conducted in Rwamagana district. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics after running the data collected through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. The findings indicated that government accountability increased transparency where government agencies are accountable to provide clear and transparent information for contract performance in Bugesera District”. Enhanced accountability and transparency; citizens' participation in governance and contract oversight processes encourages greater accountability from public officials and contractors. When citizens are engaged, they are more likely to demand transparency, which can lead to improved contract performance through the detection and prevention of corruption and mismanagement. By fostering inclusive governance practices, Rwanda can further enhance the positive outcomes of citizen involvement in public contracts, contributing to sustainable development and improved quality of life for its citizens. Community engagement; ensure that a diverse range of citizens, including marginalized groups, are actively involved in the formulation and monitoring of contracts and establish local forums or town hall meetings where citizens can voice their opinions, concerns, and suggestions regarding public contracts. Conduct regular evaluations to determine the impact of citizen participation on contract performance and identify areas for improvement. By implementing these recommendations, Rwanda can enhance citizen participation's positive effects on contract performance, ultimately improving service delivery and fostering trust between the government and its citizens.