The Influence of Socio-Demographic Characteristics on Community Participation in Water Resource Management in Tanzania: A Case of Water User Associations along Wami–Ruvu Basin

Abstract

Community participation in water resource management remains a key policy objective in Tanzania, yet evidence on how socio-demographic characteristics shape participation across management processes remains limited. This study examined the influence of socio-demographic factors on community participation in water resource management among Water User Associations (WUAs) in the Wami–Ruvu Basin, Tanzania. A cross-sectional research design was employed, involving 385 WUA members selected from a population of 5,546 registered members using multistage sampling. Data were collected through household questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings indicate that participation varied significantly across socio-demographic groups and water management stages. Occupation was a strong predictor of participation, with crop farmers more likely to participate in identification (OR = 2.075, p = 0.002) and planning (OR = 2.160, p = 0.001). Men were more likely to participate in implementation (+5.0 percentage points, p = 0.012) and evaluation (+7.0 percentage points, p < 0.001) than women. Education significantly influenced monitoring, where respondents with certificate-level education or higher were 13.8 percentage points more likely to participate (p = 0.020). Divorced or separated respondents consistently showed lower participation across all stages. The regression model explained 68.6% of participation variation (Nagelkerke R² = 0.686). The study concludes that community participation in water resource management is socially differentiated, requiring targeted and inclusive interventions to address persistent inequalities and strengthen sustainable water governance.