Exploring Stakeholder Participation in Constituency Development Fund Implementation: A Comparative Study of Rufunsa and Lusaka Central Constituencies in Lusaka Province, Zambia

This study explored stakeholder participation in Constituency Development Fund (CDF) implementation across rural Rufunsa and urban Lusaka Central constituencies in Lusaka Province, Zambia, from project identification through implementation. Employing a qualitative case study design grounded in decentralization theory and interpretivist philosophy, the research sampled 27 key CDF beneficiaries and stakeholders through non-probability homogeneous sampling. Data collection utilized in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, with thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke's six-step model. Findings revealed that while stakeholder participation theoretically enhances citizen engagement, practical implementation remains inconsistent and weak across constituencies. Rufunsa demonstrated partial success in promoting stakeholder participation through inclusive communication mechanisms and representation of vulnerable groups. Conversely, Lusaka Central exhibited significant deficits in representation, marked by stakeholder interference, bureaucratic capture, and exclusion of marginalized populations. Effective stakeholder participation necessitates localized knowledge dissemination, capacity-building among community structures, participatory inclusion mechanisms, transparent and ethical engagement of women and youth, and strict adherence to the 2024 CDF Act No. 1, particularly regarding representation of persons with disabilities. These findings contribute to understanding decentralization effectiveness in diverse socioeconomic contexts and offer practical implications for policy reform.