Exploring the Impact of Community Development Programs on Livelihoods in Tanzania

Abstract

Community development programs play a critical role in alleviating poverty and food insecurityamong households by improving access to essential services, enhancing income opportunities, and promoting food security. Poverty, food insecurity, and low household income remain persistent challenges in many developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where they present significant obstacles to improving living standards and achieving sustainable development goals. Therefore, the current study examines the determinants of poverty, participation in community development programs, and the impact of such participation on household livelihood in Tanzania using data from the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey. The study employs Probit regression to analyze the determinants of poverty and participation. At the same time, Propensity Score Matching (PSM) is used to assess the impact of participation in community development programs on household income and food security. The results show that household size, gender, education level, and access to health services are significant determinants of poverty, while factors such as age, marital status, access to healthcare, and clean water influence participation in community programs. PSM results indicate that participation in community development programs significantly improves both household income and food security. These findings suggest that enhancing access to community development programs, particularly in rural areas, and addressing barriers to participation could have a substantial positive impact on household welfare. The study recommends that policymakers focus on improving access to essential services, providing training, and ensuring that development interventions are more inclusive, particularly for marginalized groups such as women and the rural population.