Factors Influencing Implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation in Water Projects in Kenya: a Case of Non-governmental Organisation Water Projects in Kajiado County

Abstract

Monitoring and evaluation has gained prominence as a key tool for program success. Thus, NGOs have strived to integrate M&E system to promote program performance. The implementation of M&E by these NGOs is influenced by a number of factors. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors influencing implementation of monitoring and evaluation in NGOs water and sanitation projects in Kajiado County. The study was guided by the following objectives: to examine how stakeholders‟ involvement influence implementation of monitoring and evaluation in NGOs water and sanitation projects in Kajiado County; to determine the extent to which resource availability influence implementation of monitoring and evaluation in NGOs water and sanitation projects in Kajiado County; to establish the extent to which technical expertise influence implementation of monitoring and evaluation in NGOs water and sanitation projects in Kajiado County; and to assess how the use of appropriate tools and guidelines for M&E influence implementation of monitoring and evaluation in NGOs water and sanitation projects in Kajiado County. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The data was collected through a self-administered structured questionnaire. The research instrument was piloted for validity through content validity to check if the content was relevant. The reliability of the instrument was tested through Spearman coefficient. A sample size of 56 practitioners was selected using stratified sampling from a target population of 64 practitioners implementing water projects in Kajiado County. The data collected was analyzed by descriptive statistics using of a computer software SPSS version 20.0. Correlational analysis was conducted to determine factors influencing implementation of monitoring and evaluation in NGOs water and sanitation projects so as to find out whether the independent variables under study actually influenced implementation of M&E. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used to describe the data. The analyzed data was presented in form of tables. The study found out that stakeholder involvement was a factor influencing implementation of M&E with a support of 82% and a correlation coefficient of 0.792. The study also found out that resource availability was a factor influencing implementation of M&E with 92% giving an affirmation with a correlation coefficient of 0.900. The study also found out that technical expertise was a factor influencing implementation of M&E with 77% asserting its significance and a correlation coefficient of 0.793. The study further revealed that M&E tools and guidelines was a factor influencing implementation of M&E with 81% attesting to this and a correlation coefficient of 0.808. The study concluded that the factors under study influence the implementation of M&E activities. The study recommends that M&E officers and project managers be given in-service training to enhance their competencies and more resources allocated to M&E. The study further suggests that more research be carried out to determine the influence of leadership skills, donor demands and organisational culture on the implementation of M&E.