Doctoral thesis (PhD in Social Sciences)This thesis sought to examine the dynamics of community participation and accountability in Tanzania and its effect on the development management of water programs in local government authorities in Tanzania with special focus on water programs in the two districts of Kilolo and Kongwa. The study is based on the premise that community participation and accountability in development are equally important as they enhances the quality and relevance of development processes and their outcomes and therefore, an important ingredient for achieving sustainable development of local government water programs. The study employed a mixed approach, comprising qualitative and quantitative research with the qualitative paradigm being dominant. The study was undertaken under phenomenological research design that sought to illuminate the specific, to identify phenomenon and collect deep information and perception of people on participation and accountability in the development management of water programs. The evidence obtained indicates that community participation in water program management offers meaningful and potential outcomes between community members and local governments in terms of improved management of water programs and water service delivery. The study also observed that the local government authorities attempted little to organize community participation and responsiveness to local needs, particularly in decision-making, thus making community participation limited on problem identification and implementation. Also the study observed that institutions for accountability are already in place, but their influence seems to have little effects on the development management of water programs. The study recommends more capacity building to help communities to participate in water governance, enhancing more partnership between the local governments and private sectors in water governance, promoting water harvesting technology by creating awareness and training to water stakeholders and more importantly, communities to include rain water harvesting in their development plans as one of the strategies for improving water sources at village levels. There are reasons to believe that given the opportunity to continue institutionalize local government over a long period, and as with the ongoing reforms in the local government gradually will bring about better results as far as community participation and accountability in water governance is concerned.