ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LIVELIHOOD EMPOWERMENT AGAINST POVERTY (LEAP) IN ALLEVIATING RURAL POVERTY IN THE EJURA MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

This study assessed the effectiveness of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) in alleviating rural poverty using the Ejura Municipality as a case study. The descriptive cross sectional survey design was used to conduct the study with the Simple Random Sampling technique used to sample the respondents from the study area. The category of respondents sampled included beneficiaries of LEAP, Programme Officers of LEAP and non-beneficiaries of LEAP. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire.The results indicate that,the benefits of LEAP included reduction of poverty (66.7%), payment of children school fees (20%) and payment of utility bills (13.3%). Absence of baseline surveys (60%) and lack of means of transport (60%) were the major challenges affecting LEAP in the study area. The study concluded that, LEAP in Ejura municipality has contributed to reduction of poverty especially among the poor households who were direct beneficiaries. The study recommended that, in the selection of beneficiaries of LEAP at the study area, it should be free from political interference.