Influence of results based monitoring and evaluation approach on development projects: The case of Aphia plus in Mombasa county, Kenya

Abstract

The study focused on the significance of accountability, priority to community needs, capacity of personnel and incentives on development projects in Mombasa County. The sample of this study consisted of 100 respondents; 60 of whom were randomly selected beneficiaries drawn from the eight components of APHIA Plus divisions in Mombasa County and 40 were purposively selected key informants from the APHIA Plus coast Tudor office Mombasa, including project officers and coordinators, research and metrics officers, data clerks and program directors. The data was primarily collected through questionnaires, focus group discussions and interviews. Analysis of the data was done using descriptive statistics which included frequencies and percentages. Cross tabulations and chi square tests were also done to show the relationship between various variables and test the significance of the results based approach variables respectively. The findings reveal that accountability influences the effectiveness of the Results based monitoring and evaluation approach with the test statistic given as X2 (2) =30, p>0.05 indicating that there is a relationship between accountability and results based monitoring and evaluation approach. The findings revealed that transparency and accountability leads to effectiveness of results based programs. In addition, the results showed that capacity influences the effectiveness of the Results based monitoring and evaluation system approach with the test statistic given as X2 (2) =30, p>0.05 indicating that there is a relationship between capacity and results based monitoring and evaluation approach. The researcher found that developing capacity of personnel leads to success of results based programs. Furthermore, the results showed that community needs influences the effectiveness of the Results based monitoring and evaluation system approach with the test statistic given as X2 (2) =26, p>0.05 indicating that there is a relationship between community needs and results based monitoring and evaluation approach. The results of the study revealed that giving priorities to the needs of the community does not only lead to success of programs but it also leads to sustainable development. Finally, the results revealed that incentives influence the effectiveness of the Results based monitoring and evaluation approach with the test statistic given as X2 (2)=28,p>0.05 indicating that there is a relationship between incentives and results based monitoring and evaluation approach. This study therefore found that rewards to specific performance by the project stakeholders leads to success of development projects. In conclusion there is an urgent need for the enhancement of capacity, community initiatives, partnerships and accountability by project managers and other stakeholders to increase awareness on the need for results to improve lives of project beneficiaries and its overall contribution to enhancing national wealth. This study recommends on the job training of project employees and the formulation of efficient project stakeholders on effectiveness of results based programs with participation from the public, private and the community through an integrated project management system.