The Nexus between Non Governmental Organisations and Rural Development: The Case of Care Internationals Takashinga Green Garden in Nyamandi Community Ward 19 Gutu District

The local community has succumbed to severe droughts in Nyamandi community in ward 19 Gutu District as a result of climate change where erratic rainfall is being received causing crop failure. With respect to such social distress in the localities, the study assesses the contributions of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the process of rural development in an attempt to alleviate poverty. The research assesses how the participants benefitted from participating in the project and also highlights how the intervening of CARE International helped the local people in livelihood development. The research also examined the challenges which were encountered by the participating in the project. The researcher used both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to obtain information pertaining to the study. Through the administration of questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). Out of a population of 150 beneficiaries of the Green gardens, a sample of 30 respondents was selected using stratified random sampling. The study concludes that CARE International has been able to improve the rural livelihoods of the Nyamandi community. The livelihoods introduced by the NGO include livestock projects, food for work and the green gardens. CARE has helped in improving financial, human and social capital of the locals. The researcher recommends that if water problems are resolved by irrigation the livelihoods of the community members would greatly improve as they will have water supply throughout the dry seasons.