Influence of organizational factors on the implementation of change from in-kind assistance to cash based transfers: a case of world food programme, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Kenya

Abstract

This study found out that the influence of organizational factors on the implementation of change of from in-kind assistance to cash based transfers provides realistic and useful recommendations to humanitarian actors, government and academicians. Grounded on a case of Dadaab refugee camp and a case study of World Food Programme and considering the organizational factors such as the organizational structure, organizational culture, organizational capacity and organizational leadership on the implementation of change. The target population of this study was WFP staff which included top field management and the field staff who were directly involved in the cash based transfers implementation in Dadaab refugee camp. Descriptive design was used to select respondents for this study. The target population was 60 staff members of World Food Programme. The study used census of the entire population. The study used primary data which was collected using structured questionnaire. Data was collected from the mentioned groups such as programme officers and the focal staffs who were directly involved in the implementation of cash based transfers. The reasons for the selection of these groups, is because they are more directly involved in the implementation of cash based transfers activities. Likewise, they always represent the organization in coordination meetings with external partners such as donors, DRA, Government and UNHCR and NGOs. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and inferential analysis such as regression, the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used as data analysis. Descriptive statistics included frequencies and percentages while inferential statistics included multiple linear regression analysis then the results were presented in tables and figures. The study revealed that organizational structure has an influence on the implementation of cash based transfers (CBT) by World Food Programme, that organizational culture has an influence on the implementation of cash based transfers (CBT) by World Food Programme, that organizational capacity has an influence on the implementation of cash based transfers (CBT) by World Food Programme and that the allocation of resources is aligned with the plans of the organization. The study concludes that organizational capacity had the greatest effect on implementation of change followed by organizational leadership, then organizational structure while organizational culture had the least effect on the implementation of change. The study recommends that organization should develop a recruitment plans and policy guidelines to enable the organization manage recruitment, promotion, reward and dismissal of staff especially for the local communities, that organization should review its policy on the change agents, ambassador with clear performance trackers for each of them and that there is a need to access the impact of training on different levels of staff and its influence on achieving organization culture change