A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Master of Business Administration (MBA) of Mzumbe University
This study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of employment opportunities
in national parks in improving local communities livelihood; the case of Serengeti
National Park in Mara region. This was pursued under the specific objectives that
were to determine local people awareness of the nature of employment opportunities
offered by Serengeti national park, to reassess the effectiveness of employment
opportunities offered by Serengeti national park and to identify strategies that may
cause improvement of livelihood.
Both primary and secondary data were collected. Primary data were collected using
checklist and structured questionnaires. Data collected were coded and analyzed with
the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software. Data
analysis entailed a number of descriptive statistics including frequencies, averages,
cross tabulations and t-independent sample tests. Basing on results, this study
concludes that the community has expectations of getting employment opportunities
offered by SENAPA from different departments and sections like park rangers,
drivers, operators, cleaners, revenue control, out rich works, Veterinary officers,
Technicians, and accountants.
Effectiveness of SENAPA in offering of employment of opportunities to the
surrounding communities is of satisfactorily level and in addition that, SENAPA have
increased its effectiveness by offering employment opportunities in permanent and
contract basis than in temporally terms. Moreover, the study reveals that SENAPA
have several strategies to improve the livelihood of the surrounding community, for
example, provision of employment opportunities, financing programs like sports and
games, provision of education to the surrounding community.
The study recommended SENAPA to highlight several issues, special attention and
strategies in order to improve local livelihood so as to become marketable and
competitive in attracting the whole community.