Factors influencing implementation of donor funded projects: a case of non governmental organizations' projects in Kibra, Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

Donor funding have significantly influenced the course of development process globally and has also been essential in cases of natural disasters. Be that as it may, most donor funded projects either collapses midway or do not benefit the intended beneficiaries raising questions as to what factors affect the implementation of these projects. This study's purpose examined the factors influencing the implementation of donor funded projects in Kenya with specific reference to Non Governmental Organizations in Kibra, Nairobi County. The study‟s objectives were to examine the influence of the level of funding on the implementation of donor funded projects in Kibra; to determine the influence of involvement of target groups on the implementation of donor funded projects in Kibra; to assess the influence of Monitoring and Evaluation on the implementation of donor funded projects, and; to establish the influence of participation of project staff on the implementation of donor funded projects in Kibra. A descriptive survey design was used to collect data that appraised and interrogated the subject in Kibra. The targeted population in this study was project members of staff and target groups of donor funded Non Governmental Organizations in Kibra. Stratified random sampling technique was used to sample 99 respondents for the study. Five Focus Groups Discussions with target groups was also held across Kibra‟s five wards. The Focus Group Discussions targeted 10 respondents in each of the wards. The data was collected through questionnaires administered to the concerned parties. Secondary data was also collected from documented records and internet searches. To enhance validity of the instruments, the questionnaires and Focus Group Discussions checklists was subjected to expert review with the help of the supervisor on their relevance to the topic under study. A pilot test was also done before full administration of the questionnaires to determine the consistency, stability and reliability of the data collected. The data collected was edited and coded. Quantitative and qualitative techniques were used to analyze the data. The analyzed data was presented in form of tables. In determining the influence of the level of funding on the implementation of donor funded projects in Kibra the study established that inadequate and insufficient resources can impede the implementation of donor funded projects. In determining the influence of involvement of target groups in the implementation of donor funded projects, the study's findings are that the target groups‟ level of involvement to be to a small extent. In assessing the influence of monitoring and evaluation on the implementation of donor funded projects, the study established that inappropriate monitoring and evaluation also influences the implementation of donor funded projects. The study ascertained that adequacy of technical skills or lack thereof plays a key role in the development of appropriate results-based project implementation strategies. The study recommended that there is need to encourage more involvement of target groups in the project planning and implementation in order to increase the probability of sustaining the projects since there will be little resistance from the target groups. The study also recommends that project staff should be trained and/or given in-service courses on project implementation to give them the requisite skills and knowledge in project implementation. The study finally recommended that other studies ought to be done to establish whether there are other factors that influence the implementation of donor funded projects in Kenya as the study only considered four factors.