Influence of monitoring and evaluation on project's performance: case of Youth Enterprise Development Fund in Marani district, Kenya

Abstract

This study was conducted to asses the influence of Monitoring and Evaluation on project's performance as a case of Youth Enterprise Development Fund in Marani districtKenya. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) was characterized by baseline surveys, Monitoring and Evaluation trainings, M&E design and strategies to improve performance while performance was degree of goal achievement. The objectives of the study were to establish how trainings in M&E by implementers influence performance of youth projects, to investigate the extent to which (M&E) baseline surveys done prior to implementation of a project influence performance of youth projects, explore how design of M&E plans influence performance of youth project and to explore strategies that can be used to improve performance of youth projects.

The study was conducted through descriptive Design. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview responses from 79 youth projects with 240 respondents who were selected using purposive sampling, strict random sampling and stratified random sampling from the accessible population, data was analyzed using percentage distribution and frequency distribution techniques using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 16 & Ms-Excel.

The study found out that few youth project implementers have little trainings in M&E and at a very low level of seminars, baseline studies are largely not done, District and Divisional youth officers are rarely involved in design of M&E plans for youth group's projects, Log frames used lack vital components and M&E plans lack in large number of youth projects. Data collected for M&E is not specified to a large extent while M&E is done on monthly intervals, M&E activities are mostly not scheduled while youth group members and youth group officials with little trainings in M&E are the personnel in charge of M&E. There was lack of trained personnel in M&E, time for M&E exercise and scheduling of the activity.

The study concludes that lack of trainings in M&E is likely to lead to project failure, baseline surveys which are largely not done may lead to challenges on how to track project progress, lack on involvement of experts and poorly designed M&E plans with lack of specification of data to be collected for M&E ,lack of schedule for M&E activities and somebody in charge of M&E is likely to lead to a poorly implemented M&E slowed implementation of the project and low goal achievement.

The study recommends that M&E trainings given to youth are few and need to be more; baseline studies prior to project implementation should be done with the help of District & Divisional youth project experts and also be involved in the design of M&E plans. The M&E plans should use a log frame with vital details which are purposes, objectives, activities, indicators, assumptions & outputs of the youth projects.

Youth projects should have M&E plans, data collected for M&E should be specified and collected at a short weekly interval, schedule M&E activities and have a trained person in charge of M&E. More study should be carried out to fmd out how M&E trainings can be availed to the youth more reliably, how a reliable M&E baseline study can be done, how best can District and Divisional youth officers advice youth on design of M&E plans, why there are few district and divisional youth officers when the government spends more on the youth and why the youth are not ready to use computers m Monitoring and Evaluation activities.