CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARIES, CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
5.0 Introduction
This chapter presents a summary of the research findings. It
further makes conclusions and gives recommendations for the study on the basis
of the findings of this study in relation to the major research questions and
objectives set in chapter one of this particular study. The study principally
focussed on the impact of foreign aid on Rwanda?s socio-economic development as
guided by Millennium Development Goal 1 (MDG1). The samples used were also
representative in nature taking into account the principles of generalizability
as observed by Lincoln and Guba (1985). The study was confined to both males
and females from Gasabo District of Kigali City. The study was also conducted
through the use of both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
The findings however are generalizable to other District
settings not studied in Rwanda and other developing nations particularly
because of the combination of both quantitative and qualitative research
methods that were employed. The principles of validity and reliability
(credibility and trustworthy) were taken care of in the study. The thrust of
the study revolved around providing answers to the key question:
3«What impact does Foreign Aid have on Rwanda?s
socio-economic development as guided by Millennium Development Goal (MDG)1
«Eradication of extreme poverty and hunger»?
5.1 Summary of the major findings
Following recommendations by Borgdan and Biklen (1992), themes
formulated from the research questions shall guide the summary of major
findings. As such, the major findings in this section are presented in the
order of the research questions set out in chapter one of this study as:
What is the effect of poverty and hunger on Rwanda?s
socio-economic development? Does foreign aid enhance Rwanda?s socio-economic
development?
Do citizens of Rwanda appreciate the introduction of
MDGs as guiding principles for poverty alleviation?
How effective are Rwanda?s strategic policies on poverty
reduction?
How sustainable is foreign donor assistance towards the
reduction of poverty and hunger; and how do the beneficiaries evaluate
the impact of such foreign aid on the local and national socio-economic
development?
It was established that the foreign has an instrumental role
in the promotion of sustainable socioeconomic development in the country. The
results of the investigations comprehensively affirmed this. Although other
respondents had certain perceptions, the general consensus was that the foreign
aid acts as a panacea to the problems that developing countries face and
particularly those that affect their social, economic and political development
respectively. Foreign aid was also hailed for its attempt to cover critical
issues with regard to alleviation of poverty and hunger which are main focus of
MDG1.
The study came out with findings similar to those by Gruinseit
et al. (1997) in which foreign aid was described as having an instrumental role
and standing as a "powerful bullet" for the combating of poverty. Respondents
felt that some cultures segregate women?s active participation in developmental
programmes hence they are not beneficiaries some programmes meant to eradicate
poverty through donor /foreign aid intervention. The findings corroborate
Ezewu?s (1983) observations that culture as an index of social identity has an
impact on the day to day live experiences of a people. In this respect, it
varies from place to place hence may dictate the way people may view and
interpret certain issues in society.
The study established that there are a myriad of constraints
associated with the issues of foreign aid and poverty alleviation and this has
ripple effects on socio-economic development. These range from social,
economic, technological and political challenges. However, the findings pointed
to the fact that there are vast prospects with regard addressing the
challenges. Of late, global partnership have as stressed in MDGs Progress
Report for Zimbabwe (2004) been at the core of addressing the challenges. The
global packages and other internationally initiated programs for developing
nations that are associated with globalization are by no means regarded as
prospects in the context of positively promoting socio-economic development in
the context of foreign aid through eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.
Through globalization other practices that were viewed as alien to customary
conventions are increasingly getting accepted.
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