An Assessment of The Factors Affecting the Sustainability of Community-Based Organizations (CBO) Managed Community Development Programs: A Case Study of T/A Machinjiri (Blantyre Rural)

Int. Jr. of Contemp. Res. in Multi. PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL Volume 4 Issue 5 [SepOct] Year 2025 570 © 2025 Pamela Lapukeni Boris, Dr. T. Velmurugan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY NC ND).https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Research Article An Assessment of The Factors Affecting the Sustainability of Community-Based Organizations (CBO) Managed Community Development Programs: A Case Study of T/A Machinjiri (Blantyre Rural) Pamela Lapukeni Boris 1*, Dr. T. Velmurugan 2 1 Student, Master of Social Work in Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation (MSW), DMI - St Eugene University, Chibombo Campus, Zambia 2 Associate Professor, DMI - St Eugene University, Chibombo Campus, Zambia Corresponding Author: *Christian Mbalule DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17525153 Abstract Manuscript Information This study investigates the determinants influencing the sustainability of CBOrun community development projects in T/A Machinjiri, Blantyre Rural, Malawi. Using the mixed-method approach, the study contrasts CBO participation trends, stakeholders' participation trends, and internal organizational dynamics. Studies evidence that though CBOs take the focal point in grass-root development, sustainability is hampered by limited finances, intermittent training, ineffective coordination of stakeholders, and minimal awareness among the public. Strategic capacity building, multi-dimensional resource mobilization, and adaptive governance are suggested by the study to produce maximum long-term impact. ▪ ISSN No: 2583-7397 ▪ Received: 12-08-2025 ▪ Accepted: 29-09-2025 ▪ Published: 31-10-2025 ▪ IJCRM:4(5); 2025: 570-571 ▪ ©2025, All Rights Reserved ▪ Plagiarism Checked: Yes ▪ Peer Review Process: Yes How to Cite this Article Boris PL, T. Velmurugan. An Assessment of The Factors Affecting the Sustainability of CommunityBased Organizations (CBO) Managed Community Development Programs: A Case Study of T/A Machinjiri (Blantyre Rural). Int J Contemp Res Multidiscip. 2025;4(5):235-241. Access this Article Online www.multiarticlesjournal.com KEYWORDS: Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), Sustainability, Participatory Development, Malawi, Grassroots Governance, Stakeholder Engagement. Int. Jr. of Contemp. Res. in Multi. PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL Volume 4 Issue 5 [SepOct] Year 2025 571 © 2025 Pamela Lapukeni Boris, Dr. T. Velmurugan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY NC ND).https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 1. INTRODUCTION Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) are today commonly referred to as the leading proponents of human-centered development in Malawi. CBOs, when integrated with mainstream leadership paradigms, bring cheap local resources, empower individuals, and introduce health care, education, agriculture, and youth empowerment programs. Their sustainability remains precarious due to systemic and organizational constraints (Mzembe et al., 2015; Lud, 2023). 2. LITERATURE REVIEW Participatory Development Theory suggests participatory decision-making and local control over development projects (Lud, 2023). Empowerment Theory and Social Capital Theory expand on these by emphasizing the use of networks of trust and community initiative for sustained maintenance of development projects. Donor dependency, governance loopholes, and monopolistic behavior are noted in Malawian CBOs (Mzembe et al., 2015; McCauley et al., 2022). These are further compounded by entry into resource barriers and weak institutional support. 3. METHODOLOGY There was combined methods design with use of structured questionnaires (n=60), key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. CBO members, traditional leaders, NGO representatives, and government officials were sampled. Quantitative data were analysed by descriptive statistics, and thematic coding for qualitative data. 4. RESULTS a. Partition Participation Trends: 38% of the respondents were active CBO members, and most were involved in health and education programs. b. Awareness & Impact: 87% of them had low awareness about the role of CBO; 49% perceived little or no impact. c. Support Structures: 75% were supported externally, by NGOs in most cases; there was no visible government support. d. Challenges: Shortage of funds (87%), low community participation (87%), and technical capacity deficits (38%) came forward as the challenges. e. Leadership & Collaboration: All traditional leaders who took part (87%), despite stakeholders' recommendations on collaboration being poor to medium rated. 5. DISCUSSION The study reveals a gap between CBO potential and working conditions. Robust intrinsic motivation by members is cut short by structural barriers that stifle program duration. Government patronage and poor stakeholder integration erode long-term effects. Empowerment and participatory governance are far from being optimally leveraged (Lud, 2023; McCauley et al., 2022). 6. RECOMMENDATIONS ▪ Formalize mentorship and capacity building. ▪ Enhance funds diversification through local fund-raising and revenue-generating projects. ▪ Legislate or regulate traditional leaders' involvement in government. ▪ Enhance multi-stakeholder platforms of cooperation. ▪ Enhance community consciousness through outreach and narration. 7. CONCLUSION T/A Machinjiri CBOs form an integral component of the development model of Malawi, but their viability is hinged on strategic transformation. Through closure of gaps in intracapacity and realization of inclusive partnerships, the CBOs can be effective, people-owned institutions that can lead transformational change. REFERENCES 1. Lud D. Participatory development. In: Encyclopedia of Sustainable Management. Springer; 2023. Available from: https://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/978-3-030-020064_495-1 2. McCauley D, Grant R, Mwathunga E. Achieving energy justice in Malawi: From key challenges to policy recommendations. Climatic Change. 2022;170(28). Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-02203314-1 3. Mzembe AN, Downs Y, Meaton J. Corporate social responsibility in Malawi: Antecedents, issues, practices and future directions. In: Corporate Social Responsibility in Sub-Saharan Africa. Springer; 2015. p. 3–29. Available from: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3319-26668-8_1 Creative Commons (CC) License This article is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.