| dc.description.abstract | A growing number of governments in developing countries are working to improve their performance by advocating for systems that ensure efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery. To realize these, an integrated Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system is supposed to be institutionalized in the existing key departments. An integrated system requires that every pertinent department or development program to have an M&E unit. To design and institutionalize a functional Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system requires a clear understanding of the essential building blocks that facilitate efficiency and effectiveness ultimately achieving the desired results. The goal of this study was to determine the influence of essential building blocks on institutionalization of functional M&E system in the health sector of county government of Meru, Kenya. The objectives were to: determine the influence of structure and institutional alignment on institutionalization of functional M&E system in the department of health, establish how Human Resource Capacity influence institutionalization of M&E system in the department of health, explore the influence of M&E partnership on institutionalization of M&E system in the department of health, and determine the influence of M&E Plans on institutionalization of functional M&E system in the department of health, all in Meru County. The target population for the study was 588 respondents of whom a sample of 176 was randomly selected. Out of the 176 questionnaires dispatched, a total of 158 were able to respond. The identified respondents were those in charge of facilities and community units in the department of health. Collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 and both descriptive and inferential analysis carried out. The five percent significance level enabled the study test the necessary hypothesis. From the study findings, it was established that Structure and Institutional Alignment, Human Resource Capacity for M&E and M&E Partnership had a positive influence on institutionalization of functional M&E system in Meru County Government in Kenya. On the other hand, M&E plans had a negative influence. Specifically, Structure and Institutional Alignment and Human Resource Capacity for M&E significantly raised the likelihood of institutionalizing a functional M&E system by 81.9 percent (p-value=0.000) and 48 percent (p-value=0.000) holding other factors constant respectively. Based on the study results, significant alignment is required to ensure broad-based leadership support towards a functional M&E system; develop leadership vision for M&E where leadership support and advocacy will be at the center in establishing a functional M&E system; establish an M&E function in the county structure/organograms; county government should ensure development of Human Resource Capacity in M&E unit; and lastly, there is need for counties to develop a costed Human Resource Capacity building plan, a workforce development plan, M&E career paths, and ongoing technical capacity building for staff at all levels as a roadmap towards ensuring successful institutionalization of a functional M&E system in their respective departments of health. | en_US |
