Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Youth Participation in Local Government Planning and Budgeting in Iringa Municipality

This study focused at exploring the socio-economic factors influencing youth participation in planning and budgeting in Local Government Authorities (LGA) in Iringa Municipal Council. The study employed a mixed approach where data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. Findings from the study indicated that the youth did not participate in any activity in their LGA in the past three years whereby it was only 31(19.1%) of the youth respondents who participated in at least one of the local government activities in the past three years. Findings further indicated more male participation in planning and budgeting than female. On the other hand findings revealed that education has influence on youth participation in planning and budgeting whereby the more educated youth participated more than none educated youth. Based on the findings, it was concluded that there was an information gap between leaders and youth especially on local government planning and budgeting; hence the study recommended for creation of awareness on the right of the youth to participate in planning and budgeting. The study also recommended regular meetings with the youth in the wards/ streets to hear out their challenges and needs. Furthermore, the study urged the government to use youth friendly tools to create awareness to the youth on planning and budgeting processes and opportunities available in their locality and how they can tap into that pool of opportunity.