Project Management Practices and Implementation of Wildlife Conservation Projects: a Case of Kamungi Conservancy, Makueni County Kenya

Abstract

Globally, the management and conservation of wildlife resources outside government protected areas is a major challenge. 70 percent of the environmental Non-Governmental Organizations projects fail to be completed on time, within budget, and fail to meet set objectives. This study investigated project management practices and implementation of wildlife conservation projects: a case of Kamungi Conservancy, Makueni County Kenya. The study measured project planning, community capacity building, communication, and project monitoring and evaluation to determine their influence on execution of wildlife conservation projects by Kamungi Conservancy, Makueni County Kenya. The study adopted Concurrent Triangulation Research Design. A sample of 108 respondents was selected from a target population of 164. Data was collected by use of questionnaires administered to 90 Kamungi Conservancy members who were randomly sampled using simple random method. Focus Group Discussion guide was administered to 10 Kamungi Conservancy leaders. Interview guides were administered to 5 key informants comprising Project Manager, Project Officer, KWS official, Makueni County Government official, and National Government official. SPSS was used for data analysis. Findings showed that project planning, community capacity building, communication, and project monitoring and evaluation were present in wildlife conservation projects with composite means of 3.66, 3.49, 3.49 and 3.53 respectively. Implementation of wildlife conservation projects had a composite mean of 3.98. Four hypotheses were tested using Spearman’s Correlation Coefficient. The null hypotheses were rejected. All the practices were found to have a significant and positive influence on implementation of wildlife conservation projects. The study established that 23.3%, 14.1%, 6.9%, and 4.1% of variations in execution of wildlife conservation projects in Kamungi Conservancy was because of Project planning, Project monitoring and evaluation, communication, and community capacity building respectively. The study recommends active involvement of project beneficiaries, partners, and stakeholders in project planning, incorporation of community capacity building aspects in the project plans, a clear communication structure and a framework to record and address community concerns, grievances, and feedback. Finally, effective and efficient project monitoring and evaluation system that promote active involvement of project beneficiaries in M&E.