Effect of Village Alive Development Initiative on the livelihood of its beneficiaries in some selected states of Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the effect of Village Alive Development Initiative (VADI) on the livelihood of its beneficiaries in some selected states of Nigeria. Data for the study were sourced primarily from 408 beneficiaries of the programme, while secondary sourced data were obtained from VADI reports. Data analyses were carried out using Descriptive Statistics and a five point likert type scale, household livelihood security index and t-test. Result of socioeconomic characteristics revealed a mean age of 46±13 years, mean years of education of 8.6±5.7 and household sizes of 7±3.6 with 85.5% of them being married. Level of support derived from the programme indicated that 50.5% of the beneficiaries had enjoyed high level of support while 49.5% of them enjoyed low level of support. Result of household livelihood security index revealed that 65.2% of the beneficiaries were classified as low level of livelihood while 34.8% of them enjoyed high level of livelihood. Further analyses revealed a statistically significant mean difference between the high and low livelihood status which implies that the livelihood improvement did not come by accident, but as a result of the support enjoyed from the intervention. The need to replicate the programme in other states was advocated for