Factors influencing implementation of donor funded projects in government ministries: A case of ministry of transport and infrastructure- Kenya
Abstract
The study report aimed at investigating the factors influencing implementation of donor
funded projects. The objectives of the study were: to assess how conditions imposed by
donors influence implementation of donor funded projects, to investigate how procurement
related factors influence implementation of donor funded projects and to determine influence
of skills in project planning and management on implementation of donor funded projects.
The study concentrated on three independent variables namely: donor conditions, procurement
related factors and skills in project planning and management. The Ministry was
implementing several projects funded by donor and the government of Kenya. It had,
however, been experiencing low absorption of funds hence slow or poor implementation of
donor funded projects. The researcher established a gap that the roles played by the three
factors in the implementation and absorption of the donor funded project had not been studied
albeit the government had been reporting under absorption of donor funds every financial
year. The study used descriptive research design for open ended questions with a survey used
as a method of collecting data while frequency tables and percentages were used for
quantitative data analysis. The targeted population comprised 50 officers working in
departments that deal with donor funded projects in the eight state corporations and two State
departments of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure that included state department of
transport and state department of infrastructure. Sample was clustered between the state
corporations or semi-autonomous government agencies under Ministry and state departments
in the Ministry headquarter. The collected data was analyzed by way of descriptive statistic
and the results presented using frequency distribution tables. Data collected from open-ended
questions were summarized into themes. From the findings it was established that donor
conditions, inadequate skills and procurement process negatively affect the project
implementation. Donor funded projects are not completed on time and donor funded projects
objectives are not always achieved. Project cost escalates during the procurement process.
Project commencement date always experience delays hence affecting the implementation of
the donor funded projects. This is due to insufficient skills from the implementing unit, delay
in delivery of materials, bulky paper work, delay in disbursement of project funds and long
tendering process. Absorptions rate for donor funded project are found to be low. This
emanates from poor planning by the ministries, lengthy procurement procedures, and stringent
demands from donors. The study recommends donor conditions should be made flexible and
none punitive to the users of the funds to increase the implementation process of donor funded
projects; again, they should be free from political interest and countries left to set their own
priorities. Timely completion of donor funded projects can be achieved by enhancing
transparent tendering process, employing monitoring and evaluation technique. Absorption
rate can be improved by proper planning and monitoring of the projects, and when
disbursement ration and rate are enhanced. The government should therefore have department
for project planning and management in every Ministry and State Corporation with
professionally qualified personnel.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Collections
- Faculty of Education (FEd) [5964]