Influence of Monitoring and Evaluation Practices and Performance of Technical and Vocational Training Projects in Kenya: a Case of Nairobi County

Abstract

Monitoring and evaluation practices are increasingly being utilized by organizations such as NGOs, firms and government institutions in efforts towards increasing efficiency in projects performance. Over the years, implementation of monitoring practices has been a real challenge within government programmes and their performance. The study sought to find out the influence of monitoring and evaluation practices on the performance of Technical and Vocational Training projects in Kenya. The specific objectives for this research study were to determine the influence of monitoring and evaluation planning, choice of tools and methods, facilitation of monitoring and evaluation team and monitoring and evaluation reporting on the performance of Technical and Vocational Training projects in Kenya. The Theory of Change, Dynamic Capabilities Theory and Theory of Constraints which are linked to the various study variables were leveraged in the study. Additionally, descriptive research design method was adopted in the study. The project administrators, project managers, education staff and performance contracting committee at Nairobi-based TVET institutions who total to 56 formed the target population for the study. A census was conducted on the entire set since the population was small. Questionnaires and interview schedules were utilized for the purpose of collecting primary data from the sample. Pilot testing to assess the validity and reliability of questions was conducted on the research instruments. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected, edited and cleaned before undergoing statistical analysis. Analysis of data was done using descriptive statistics (Mean and Standard Deviations) as well as regression model. The study used Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23) for data processing and analysis and the results were presented through tables. A pilot test of 9 constituting 15 % of the sample size was used for pilot testing. In this study, out of 56 targeted respondents, 48 returned the questionnaires. This translates to a return rate of 85.7%. From the study, it was observed that with a composite mean of 3.63 and a standard deviation of 0.983, all the respondents disagreed that monitoring and evaluations plans are well applicable in Technical and Vocational Training projects. Majority 23(47.9 %) of the respondents agreed that there are appropriate measuring tools and methods utilized in projects conducted by TVETs, 29(60.4%) of the respondents disagreed that the measuring tools are used in the right manner to increases the performances of the TVETs, having a mean of 4.28 and 4.31 a standard deviation of 0.873 and 0.069 respectively. On facilitation of monitoring and evaluation team and Performance of technical and vocational training projects, the average weight for all the constructs (3.91) revealed that they disagree with the statements that there is substantial facilitation of employees. On whether monitoring and evaluation reporting is carried out in the programmes more regularly, majority of the respondents, 26(54.2%), strongly disagreed with a mean of 4.20 and standard deviation of 0.403. On the item whether the process of monitoring and evaluation reporting is allocated adequate resources to ensure effectiveness of the process, the respondents 20(41.8%) strongly disagreed that the process of monitoring and evaluation reporting is allocated adequate resources to ensure effectiveness of the process. Moreover, 15(31.2%) strongly disagreed with the statement that there is adequate training offered to the personnel involved in the reporting of monitoring processes while 27(56.2%) of the respondents disagreed concerning the statement that the process of monitoring and evaluation in reporting is allocated enough time. The study recommends that TVETS needs to ensure that adequate facilitation of monitoring and evaluation team is enhanced, monitoring and evaluation planning upheld, ensure adequacy of monitoring and evaluation reporting and as well as ensuring that monitoring and evaluation choice of tools and methods is enhanced.