Factors influencing the effectiveness and equity of Constituency Development Fund skills development bursary targeting in Ndola Central Constituency, Zambia

Abstract

The adoption of the Constituency Development Fund was first done in India and became famous when Kenya launched it in 2003 making it to spread to other countries in Africa and globally. In Zambia, the approval of the CDF by Parliament as a way of financing micro-community projects for reducing poverty was done in 1995. The recent landmark revolution is increase in the amount of CDF from K1.6 million in 2021, reaching K36.1 million in 2025 and expanding its scope in three distinctive parts which are: Community Projects; Secondary Boarding as well as Skills Development Bursaries and Youth, Women and Community Empowerment. The Skills Development Bursary was intended to provide equitable access to technical and vocation training for vulnerable youth. However, concerns persist regarding transparency, consistency, and inclusiveness of bursary selection in Ndola Central Constituency. The study aimed to analyze factors influencing the effectiveness and equity of targeting techniques used to select Skills Development Bursary beneficiaries in Ndola Central Constituency and to propose evidence-informed improvements. It was anchored on two theories which are, Stakeholder Theory and Systems Theory. A convergent parallel mixed-methods research design was employed for the study. The study utilized simple random sampling for the quantitative strand while purposeful sampling was employed under qualitative strand. Quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires from bursary beneficiaries (n=97; 60% response rate from a target population of 163). Qualitative data were generated through semi structured interviews with key informants (n=20 out of targeted 30) from CDF committee members, Ward Development Committees, training institutions, oversight and council officers. Quantitative data were arranged using SPSS version 20 with descriptive statistics and inferential tests (chi square, ANOVA and regression). Qualitative data were assembled using a transparent coding approach (content analysis) supported by appropriate software. The findings showed that, perceived transparency and clarity of selection criteria were positively associated with inclusiveness of beneficiary selection (R² = 0.50; β = 0.62, p < .001). Qualitative findings indicated that community validation mechanisms enhanced identification of the vulnerable, but administrative delays, coordination weaknesses undermined fairness and trust. In conclusion, targeting in Ndola Central operates as a hybrid of formal- application based procedures and community validation. The study recommended that, strengthening transparency, standardizing procedures, improving coordination and establishing appeal and grievance mechanism are likely to enhance equity and effectiveness.