Influence of monitoring and evaluation on performance of county-funded projects a case of Amboseli conservation project in Kajiado county

Abstract

Project is only successful if it comes on schedule, on budget, it achieves the deliverables originally set for it and the output accepted and used by the clients for whom the project was intended. Many projects in Kenya have either stalled or failed to kick off; in others, shoddy performance by merchants had been noted. County governments invest billions of shillings annually in a number of projects in various sectors. However, most of these projects experience performance challenges in terms of implementation and completion, thereby leading to wastage due to ineffective M & E. Therefore, this study purposed to establish the influence of monitoring and evaluation on performance of county funded projectsbased on Amboseli conservation project in Kajiado County.Specifically, the study looked at influence of M&E planning, M&E training, stakeholders’ involvement in M&E and utilization of M&E findings on performance of Amboseli conservation project in Kajiado County, Kenya. The study was underpinned by the program theory and theory of change.The study adopted a descriptive research design with the target population being 201 comprising of community leaders, M&E officials, project managers and Amboseli national parks’ officials. Stratified simple random sampling techniques were used to select a sample of 134 respondents. Primary data was obtained using self-administered questionnaires while secondary data was obtained using data collection sheet. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 25.0). Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean score and standard deviation wasused to analyze the quantitative data. The qualitative data from the open-ended questions was analysed using content analysis and presented in prose. Multiple regression analysiswas used to establish the relationship between the independent and the dependent variables. The information was presented in form of frequency tables. The study found thatM&E procedures plans influenced theperformance of Amboseli conservation project in Kajiado County to a very great extent. The research also found that the number of officers trained in M&E influences the performance of Amboseli conservation project in Kajiado County to a moderate extent.The research also found that collaborations; stakeholder identification influence performance of Amboseli conservation project in Kajiado County to a great extent.Further, the research found that provision of performance feedbackinfluence performance of Amboseli conservation project in Kajiado County to a low extent. The study concluded that M&E planning had the greatest influence on the performance of Amboseli conservation projectin Kajiado County, followed by stakeholders’ involvement in M&E, then utilization of M&E findingswhileM&E training had the least influenceto the performance of Amboseli conservation projectin Kajiado County.The study recommends that the effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation can be enhanced when project team learn how to apply technical and systematic methodologies in executing these activities.The study also recommended for a proper adoption of monitoring policy which will ensure that it is properly anchored within county-funded projects performance.The study also recommends that the staffshould possess the required technical expertise to ensure high-quality monitoring.