Influence of Women Participation on Sustainability of the Community Conservation Project Implemented by Jaldesa Community Conservancy in Marsabit County, Kenya

Abstract

Biodiversity conservation is a new paradigm shift in the management of Community wildlife resources as a tool to sustainable growth of the economy, improved livelihood, and preservation of nature. The study established the role of women participation in projects and the sustainable wildlife conservation project at Jaldesa community in Marsabit County, Kenya. The study utilized four variables that included women in decision making, control & access to resources, project implementation and capacity building of women leaders &sustainable Jaldesa community conservation project. The design approach in the study was a cross-sectional survey having a mixed mode of research methods characterized with qualitative and quantitative. The Participatory and Ecological Feminism Theory were significant for the study. The probability and non-probability sampling were utilized to obtain sample size of 443 samples drawn from a target population of 19,860. Pilot study was obtained using a fraction of the sample. The reliability analysis was attained through Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of α>0.7. The research instrument was utilized. The researcher herself collected the Primary data using questionnaires and focus group discussions as research instrument. Descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed with SPSS version 25. The Pearson’s moment correlation concluded that Access & Control of Resources, Capacity Building, Decision Making and Implementation has a significant influence on the sustainable conservation of Jaldesa community projects in Marsabit County, Kenya and there is a strong relationship. The study recommends that the authorities at national and county government of Marsabit County involve women in decision making, leadership roles, attend meeting, be party to decisions made by the conservancy board and making them well versed on the decision-making processes. Also, recommends that women manage, control, and have full access to resources through financial liberty, have voice on access to and control of resources and giving them right to resources and ownership.