Monitoring and Evaluation Systems and Performance of Water and Sanitation Projects in Kisumu West Ward, Kisumu County, Kenya

Abstract

Water and sanitation projects have been greatly extensively supported in the region with the intention of providing clean and safe water to the community. Unfortunately, the performance of these projects are questionable. It was for that reason that this study examined how monitoring and evaluation systems influences the performance of water and sanitation projects within Kisumu West ward, Kisumu County, Kenya. The study was grounded on objects: To ascertain the effect of planning systems on water and sanitation projects in Kisumu West Ward; To evaluate the baseline assessment on performance water and sanitation projects in Kisumu West Ward; To analyze how stakeholder participation influence the performance of water and sanitation projects in Kisumu West Ward, Kisumu County; and finally to ascertain how progress reporting affect water and sanitation projects performance within Kisumu West Ward, Kenya. The research was anchored on program theory as the main theory, supplemented by stakeholder theory. Descriptive survey design as employed with a targeted population of 13,235 comprising of 13,200 project beneficiaries, 25 project committee, 5 project managers and sponsors each. Yamane (1967) formulae was applied to arrive at 388 sample size from beneficiaries and purposively sampled one (1) respondent each for project committee, project manager and project sponsor, whereas, the techniques entailed stratified simple random and purposive sampling. Research instruments utilized were structured questionnaire and Key Informant Interview guide. The study was piloted in the nearby Kisumu North West Ward with 10 respondents. The research tools were validated and reliability tested. The Questionnaires were administered through digital platforms and a high return rate of 97.7% was realized, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics used for analysis assisted by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Software and the analysis outcome conveyed via tables. Findings disclosed an existing positive statistical significant correlation between all the four monitoring and evaluation systems constructs (planning systems, baseline assessment, stakeholder participation, progress reporting) and the performance of water and sanitation projects in Kisumu west ward, Kisumu County. Moreover, the study found that 69.1% of the variability in the performance of water and sanitation projects could be accounted for through planning systems, baseline assessment, stakeholder participation and progress reporting put together. Moreover, all the four study variables (planning systems, baseline assessment, stakeholder participation, progress reporting) produced a positive and significant interrelation with water and sanitation projects performance within Kisumu West Ward, Kisumu County. The research findings indicated that monitoring and evaluation systems interventions under the study were important in the performance of performance of water and sanitation projects Kisumu West Ward, Kenya. Recommendations raised included establishment of effective policy framework on planning systems, more emphasis of baseline surveys with measurable specific objectives, holistic stakeholder engagement and streamlining progress reporting in the implementation of water and sanitation initiatives within Kisumu West Ward. A suggestion for further studies surrounding other wards as well as extended to Constituency and County