Evidence from the Development Response
to Displacement Impacts Project in
Benishangul gumuz, Bambasi woreda, Ethiopia
FEATURED PAPER
By Girma Alemu, Dr. Tinsue Gebrekidan, Dr. Teshome Tamirat
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Abstract
Forced displacement is affecting host communities, driven by a range of underlying factors leading to complex socio-economic and environmental impacts. In response to these challenges, the Government of Ethiopia, with financial support from the World Bank, implemented the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP), which adopts a Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach to address the needs and priorities of both host and displaced populations. This study investigated the effectiveness of a Community-Driven Development (CDD) project implementation approach within the context of the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP) in the Bambasi District of Western Ethiopia. A descriptive and explanatory research designs were employed using primary data through semi-structured interviews with 26 purposively sampled key informants, including project staff and village chairpersons, supplemented by secondary document analysis. Key findings indicated that the CDD approach successfully fostered active community participation, reduced project costs, minimized completion time, and enhanced community ownership and empowerment, effectively addressing genuine community needs. However, the project implementation was characterized by critical challenges, including elite capture, financial shortages for robust supervision, and limited budget ceilings that prevented the full completion of subprojects. Crucially, a significant gender imbalance was observed, with cultural norms and systemic barriers limiting women’s participation. A statistical comparison revealed that a significant difference (t = -2.43, p = 0.0188) between the project’s success in meeting beneficiary priorities and the clarity of its objectives, suggesting a gap between the program’s design (high consensus on objective Mean =2.92, SD=0.27 and its impact on beneficiary satisfaction (predominance of ‘Lower’ performance ratings). This highlights the difficulty CDD approach face in meeting expectations within the Ethiopian context. The study recommends that project management increase budget allocations for project follow-up and supervision, raise the budget ceiling for community and strategic investment fund subprojects, and prioritize strategies to address systemic gender imbalance and elite capture to maximize the project’s sustainability and equitable impact.
Key Words: Forced Displacement, Community-Driven, Socio-Economic, Inclusivity and Participatory
- Introduction
Displacement of refugee in the Horn of Africa has been exacerbated by both natural and man-made factors, including climate change, environmental degradation, drought, conflict, and civil unrest in neighboring countries (Pankhurst, & Piguet, F.2009[1]). Ethiopia, hosting nearly one million refugees as of December 2023, faces significant challenges in accommodating these newcomers (Ahmed, 2023[2]). The refugee-hosting regions are affected by extensive pressure on host community from limited access to essential services, weak institutional capacity, high unemployment, and poverty (Piguet, & Pankhurst, 2010[3]). The influx of refugees places a heavy burden on local communities’ socio-economic situation that significantly increasing the demand for basic services such as education, healthcare, and water, as well as natural resources like water and fuel wood (Iheka & Taylor, 2018[4]). As Ethiopia strives to achieve its own development goals, the pressure on host communities becomes increasingly difficult and challenging (Fasselt, & Uraizee, 2024[5]). Recognizing that forced displacement is both a humanitarian and developmental challenge, the United Nations and the World Bank have reached a consensus on the need for comprehensive responses to act through community driven project (Geda etal.,2005[6]).
In response, the Ethiopian government, in collaboration with the World Bank, has implemented the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP I) over the past six years (2016-2022) (Gagiano, 2021[7]). This initiative aims to mitigate the impacts of the prolonged presence of refugees on host communities in five regions namely: Afar, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Somali, and Tigray (Okpewho, & Nzegwu, 2009[8]). The project employs a Community Driven Development (CDD) approach, empowering communities to identify problems, prioritize needs, and monitor implementation. Communities contribute 15% of project costs, fostering ownership and engagement in development processes (Bashir, & Lewis, 2008[9]).
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How to cite this paper: Alemu, G., Gebrekidan, T., Tamirat, T. (2025). The Effect of a Community-Driven Development Approach on Project Performance: Evidence from the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project in Benishangul gumuz, Bambasi woreda, Ethiopia; PM World Journal, Vol. XIV, Issue XII, December. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/pmwj159-Dec2025-Alemu-et-al-Effect-of-Community-Driven-Development-Approach.pdf
About the Authors
Girma Alemu
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Mr. Girma Alemu, from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is a Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist for the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project Phase II under the Ministry of Agriculture. He holds an MA in Project Management and a BA in Development Management.
Dr. Tinsue Gebrekidan
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Dr. Tinsu G/kidan (also cited as Dr. Tinsue Gebrekidan) is a highly qualified academic staff member at the Ethiopian Civil Service University (ECSU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, specializing in key areas of economics and public financial management essential for public sector capacity building.
Dr. Teshome Tamirat
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Dr. Teshome Tamirat, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, holds a PhD in Forest Ecology and an MA in Project Management. He currently serves as the Department Head for Forestry at the Ethiopian Forestry Development and conducts research across various fields, including agriculture, forestry, and project management. Additionally, he acts as the National Focal Point for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, focusing on the implementation of the national drought management plan, combating land degradation and related project design and execution. He can be contacted at Tesh4040@gmail.com
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