Influence of participatory monitoring and evaluation on sustainability of community development projects in selected public schools in Gatundu south constituency, Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

This study focuses on the influence on Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation (PM&E) on sustainability of projects funded through community development projects in public schools in Gatundu South Constituency. The study focuses on four objectives which include; the influence of stakeholder participation in visions and mission setting on sustainability of community development projects, the influence of negotiation of objectives on sustainability of development projects, influence of stakeholder’s capacity building on how to monitor and solve problems on sustainability of development projects and the influence of community empowerment and ownership on sustainability of development projects. The study is grounded on two theories: The theory of sustainability and ladder of participation theory. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The target population of the study is 1018 teachers from the select public primary and secondary schools in Gatundu South constituency. The target population was stratified according to the level of teachers interviewed. The respondents were purposively selected based on their knowledge of the projects and ability to fill in the questionnaire. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data, as hence 100% response rate. Data was analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively through descriptive statistics and presented through frequency table and percentages. SPSS was used for organizing and synthesizing the data. The study established that stakeholder’s participation in vision and mission setting, negotiation of objectives and setting flexibles goals, stakeholder’s capacity building on problem solving and community empowerment and ownership influence sustainability. A significant number of respondents as shown by a 3.89 mean agreed that absence of manipulation in vision and mission setting influences sustainability. 85% of respondent recommend that before starting the projects they should have a vision statement. 89 % of respondents would provide support financially if they are involved in the projects vision setting, 80% of the respondents, mean 4.0 strongly agrees that training the stakeholders on how to monitor and evaluate the projects influences sustainability. However while training is a key aspect, only 20% of the respondent have been trained on M&E. 88% of the respondent, agrees that it is important to undertake change management and drive change of attitudes as this influences project sustainability. The study also established that consensus in objectives setting and setting flexible objectives influences sustainability to a small extent, mean 2.34. The study concluded that stakeholder’s participation in setting the vision and mission influences project sustainability. It also concluded that stakeholder’s capacity building to monitor and evaluate projects influences sustainability to a great extent. It also concluded that it is important for the donors and other financing agents to undertake change management before handing over the projects to the community as this creates a sense of ownership. Based on the research findings, the study recommends that the county and national government work together in establishing Monitoring and Evaluation units in the respective governments that will see that there is increased stakeholders participation in setting the vision and projects objectives and capacity building to do M&E, and also undertake change management post project implementation.