An Assessment of the Components of the Integrated Financial Management Information System of Caritas Nairobi

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the components of the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMIS) of Caritas Nairobi. Specifically, it was aimed at: determining the extent to which IFMIS system at Caritas Nairobi meets the international standards. The objectives were to determine whether the components meet the established standards and to determine the gaps and strengths IFMIS system. Descriptive research design was used to describe the current status of IFMIS system being used at Caritas Nairobi, which helped to identify the strengths and the gaps which were to help in the realization of the objectives. The assessment borrowed the FHI 360 participatory M& E system Assessment Tool that condenses the 12 components of an M& E system into 8 domains. The target population was 11 respondents who were sampled purposively. Data was collected by the use of questionnaire and document reviews, then analysed by the use of Excel spread sheets and results presented in tables. Overall the 12 components of the IFMIS system scored 477 out of 720, which was 66 percent. These scores presented vary from one component to the other with the data analysis. The highest was 100 percent which was the payroll components. Followed by Charts of accounts closely, while the lowest was budgetary accounting at 41 percent. The key strengths of the system were in reporting, charts of accounts, payroll system, reporting, general ledger and accounts receivable were utilized fully in the system. The study concluded that although the system was functional, it was not adequately utilized at Caritas. As a result, the study recommended that all the other 11 components of the IFMIS system are should be fully linked with the general ledger since it’s the mastermind the system. The study also recommend that future research should focus on a longitudinal study to assess the long-term effectiveness and impact of any proposed improvements or changes to the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) within Caritas Nairobi.