Influence of Monitoring and Evaluation Practices on Implementation of Projects in Kenya; a Case of Dreams Education Support for Adolescent Girls & Young Women Project in Nyalenda Ward, Kisumu County.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of monitoring and evaluation on the implementation of projects in Kenya; a case of DREAMS education support for adolescent girls & young women project in Nyalenda ward, Kisumu county. The objectives were to determine how skills of the monitoring and evaluation team influence implementation of project in Kisumu County; to establish the influence of resource allocation to the monitoring and evaluation team on implementation of project in Kisumu County; To determine how utilizing M&E results from influence implementation of project in Kisumu County; to establish the influence of stakeholder involvement on implementation of project in Kisumu County. The study used a descriptive research design which adopts both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. The study targeted a total population of 156 participants who comprise of 24 project officers, 7 monitoring & Evaluation Team,100 mentors, 23 project committee and 2 project regional officers. The study used questionnaires for data collection. Data were collected by administering a semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire utilized both open-ended and closed questions. Closed-ended questions consisted of predetermined. Secondary sources of data were obtained from books, journals, dissertations, magazines and internet sources. The study targeted 110 participants involved with DREAMS education support for adolescent girls & young women project in Kajulu ward Kisumu county. The sample size was 66. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and inferential analysis techniques with the help of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 25) and qualitative analysis was analyzed on themes. The findings reveal that there was a strong positive correlation r= (0.765) between skills of monitoring and evaluation team and implementation of the project, the correlation was found to be statistically significant at 5% since the p-value of 0.001 was less than 0.05. The study established there was a strong positive correlation r= (0.695) between resource allocation and implementation of DREAMS project, also the correlation was found to be statistically significant at 5% since the p-value of 0.004 was less than 0.05. The findings found out that there was a strong positive correlation of r=0.765 between utilizing monitoring and evaluation results and implementation of DREAMS projects, the correlation was found to be statistically significant at 5% since the p-value of 0.001 was less than 0.05. The study also found out that there was a strong correlation of (r=0.861) between stakeholder involvement and implementation of the DREAMS project. The study found out that there was a strong positive correlation of r=0.636 between utilizing monitoring and evaluation results and implementation of DREAMS project by mentors and project implementors, the correlation was statistically significant at 1% since the p-value was 0.000 which is less than 0.01. The study recommended that more training should be conducted to everyone involved in the monitoring and evaluation of DREAMS projects. The training should focus on monitoring and evaluation skills, this is social skills, data analysis skills, research skills and communication skills. The study also recommends the management involved in the DREAMS project should at least be quick in responding dome of the challenges that mentors and project committee go through especially when carrying out their work.”