Effect of Capacity Building Programme of Development Agencies on Well Being of Beneficiaries in Niger Delta Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the effect of capacity building programmes of development agencies (NDDC and SPDC) on well being of beneficiaries in the Niger delta, by assessing participant’s income before and after participation and their perception about the effects of the training programme on them using multidimensional criteria such as their educational, health, shelter, skill acquisition and general standard of living needs. A sample size of 300 respondents was selected from the 22 capacity development (study) centers chosen from Rivers and Bayelsa state using purposive-cluster and random sampling techniques. The result of the study indicates that there was a nominal positive change of income in favour of the participating youths exposed to the programme, the study concluded that the skills acquisition pogrammes of the development agencies were effective at improving the wellbeing needs of the participants. It was recommended that donors of both programmes SPDC and NDDC should ensure sustainability by creating more study centres with well-equipped facilities for the training; effective supervision, and monitoring. There is need for adequate funding to ensure prompt payment of stipends and starter packs. Apart from this, experts and professionals should be engaged to train this youth.