SSESSING THE PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES OF URBAN INSTITUTIONAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (UIIDP) INIMPLEMENTATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS IN WOLKITE TOW

Abstract

This research paper examines the prospects and challenges of the Urban Institutional andInfrastructure Development Program (UIIDP) in the implementation of infrastructureprograms in Wolkite Town. The UIIDP is a comprehensive initiative aimed at fosteringsustainable urban development by improving institutional capacity and infrastructureprovision. This study utilizes a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative andqualitative data, to assess the prospects and challenges of Urban Institutional andInfrastructure Development Program (UIIDP) in implementation of infrastructures programsin Wolkite town. The findings of the study provided insights into the program's prospects forsuccess and the challenges that need to be addressed for its successful implementation usinga descriptive research design. In this study a mixed research approach was employedbecause mixed method is especially useful in understanding contradictions betweenquantitative results and qualitative findings. The researcher collected data using closed- ended and open-ended questions and interview guide developed to obtain the necessaryinformation. For this study, 120 respondents were selected among the population of the townusing purposive sampling and among the employees of the study institution. The study foundthat despite its prospects, there is a moderate level of implementation of Urban Institutionaland Infrastructure Development program in the area. As the study shows, the challenges tha thinder the implementation of Urban institutional and infrastructure development program inthe area includes corruption and misconduct behaviors, lack of technical skills of theper formers, lack of control and monitoring mechanisms, lack or financial problem, lesscommunity participation and political factors such as involvement of political authoritieswith low decision-making skill. The study also implied that there should be continuous followup of the infrastructural and development activities in the town, clear and periodic auditingof the funds that allocated for the program, and adopting rules and regulations that regulatethe execution of the UIIDP program through close monitoring and control mechanism. To doso, the study recommends that setting the control and monitoring mechanisms regarding themajor tasks and its allocated budget as a mechanism that enables the stakeholders for properimplementation of urban institutional and infrastructure development program inimplementation of infrastructures in the area