Publication: Monitoring and evaluation practices and performance of health projects in Embu county government, Kenya
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2023-03
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IOSR Journal of Business and Management
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Abstract
Monitoring and evaluation is a vibrant part of project management that determines the effectiveness and efficiency
of any project undertaking. Without it, project success is therefore minimal. Embu County is currently facing
several challenges in its performance of health projects. This has been attributed due to the lack of effective and
efficient monitoring and evaluation execution. The main purpose of this study was to determine a relationship
between monitoring and evaluation practices and the performance of health projects in Embu county government,
Kenya with the objective of understanding the effectiveness and efficiency of its applications. The study was
therefore guided by monitoring and evaluation practices such as planning, capacity building, and data
management as well as political meddling. To understand them further, two theories were studied, the program
and result-based management theories respectively. The study adopted a mixed methodology both quantitative
and qualitative designs (triangulation design). The target population was 372 respondents from various health
sectors composed mainly of project contractors, project managers, project officers, and project beneficiaries. A
sample size of 112 respondents was used and determined using the central limit theorem method, at least 30
percent of the target population. Stratified random sampling and purposive sampling methods were adopted in
selecting them. Data was collected using both questionnaires for quantitative data and an interview guide for
qualitative data. Project contractors and managers gave qualitative data, and project officers and beneficiaries
gave quantitative data respectively which were analyzed with the help of SPSS software. Both descriptive statistics
(for mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (for regression and correlation as well as ANOVA)
were used. Study findings indicated that; M&E planning (β= 0.253, p<0.001), M&E capacity building (β= 0.345,
p<0.006), M&E data management (β= 0.238, p<0.008) at P< 0.05 (95% confidence level) were all significant
except political meddling (β= 0.036, p<0.437) which was found to be insignificant (p=0.437) more than p=0.05.
It was recommended that monitoring and evaluation practices influenced the Performance of Health Projects in
Embu County Government, Kenya. Recommendations for further study suggested that a thorough study of other
critical factors affecting capacity-building practices should be done. This was backed by the fact that it affected
the health project performance to a greater extent when compared to the rest of the independent variables.