An Analytical Assessment of Sustainability and Community Participation in the Qatr Al-Raihan Village Development Project, Al-Ghab Region- Hama Governorate- Syria

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the factors constraining the sustainability of rural development projects through a case study of the development project implemented in Qatr Al-Raihan village, Al-Ghab region, Hama Governorate, during the period (2022-2023). The research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, utilizing a questionnaire as the primary data collection tool administered to a comprehensive sample comprising all beneficiary families of the project (N = 36). The findings reveal that while all beneficiary families received government support, only 22.2% reported that the support was adequate. Community participation was largely formalistic, confined to the implementation phase with no involvement in planning. Furthermore, lack of technical training emerged as the most prominent challenge, cited by 50% of respondents. The composite index of project performance, constructed according to OECD methodology, registered 32.7%, indicating a low overall performance level that reflects significant developmental deficiency. Independent samples t-test results confirmed a statistically significant effect for both funding adequacy (p = 0.015, with a large effect size d = 0.87) and training adequacy (p = 0.043, d = 0.72) on project sustainability. Conversely, the effect of knowledge of government programs did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.135). The study provides a comprehensive quantitative framework for measuring development performance and offers practical recommendations aimed at transforming development interventions from temporary measures into sustainable mechanisms.