This Research was designed to assess the practices and challenges of community participation inrnlocal developmental programs. It also tried to address the community experiences; thernimplications of adult educations for developmental programs and the contribution of communityrnparticipation to poverty reduction. Samples of 78 respondents were taken for the study usingrnmultistage stratified sampling. In the process of answering the basic questions, a questionnairernthat include demographic profiles, experiences of community participation, major challenges ofrncommunity participation, implication of adult education, current practical level (degree) ofrncommunity participation and the current community participation implication to reduce povertyrnwere designed in the form of closed and open ended questions. Key informant Interviews werernheld with top officials and one expert whose activities are related with the research topic fromrnWoreda administrative, Education, road construction, Health, agricultural, and water andrnenergy offices and totally 12 respondents were purposively selected. In addition, three (3) focusrngroup discussions (FGD) were conducted with four community areas (Busa, Kersa, Arbigebayarnand Bashi). After the data had been collected, it was analyzed using simple statistical techniquesrn(tables, figures and percentages).The results of the study indicated the practices and challengesrnof community at the local area. First, the major experiences identified were peoples with highrnincome, high education level, low family members, and alternative incomes, managerial orrnprofessional, were the ones who participated in political, and civil services activities. However,rnpeoples with low incomes, large family sizes, less education level, in sales and servicesrnparticipated in low level. Second, the major challenges identified were lack of finance, lack ofrninformation, capacity problems of local leaders, lack of policy support, lack of periodicallyrnmonitoring the participation and time constraints .third, the study revealed that adult educationrnin developmental programs contributed to poverty reduction activities, fourth, it was found outrnthat community participation was weak except in implementation process. Finally, it wasrnconducted that community participation in local developmental programs was weak. Hence, itrnwas recommended that more participatory approach should be encouraged by south west showarnzone, dawo district, more socially disadvantaged sections of the community should bernencouraged to actively participate in local developmental programs