Influence Of Monitoring And Evaluation Practices On Performance Of Non-Government Organizations Funded Projects In Wajir County, Kenya

Abstract

With the increase in the number and scale of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Kenya, there has been a growing concern about the need to identify their achievements and the effectiveness of their operations. Monitoring and evaluation methods have emerged as vital routines for tracking crucial aspects of NGOs' performance, especially in developing nations. Common projects’ performance measurement metrics primarily focused on by NGOs include the delivery of high-quality output on schedule and within budget. However, existing literature reveals flaws in the design and implementation of program objectives. Empirical research has demonstrated that programs with weak or non-specific M&E mechanisms tend to perform poorly on average. This research aimed to focus on various recognized monitoring and evaluation procedures and their influence on the performance of NGO-funded projects in Wajir County, Kenya. Specific objectives explored how planning for M&E, community engagement in M&E process, communication of the M&E findings, and the utilization of M&E findings influenced the success of non-governmental funded projects in the region. The study adopted a descriptive research design using a mixed-method approach to collect information-rich data from the research participants. The target population consisted of the twenty-five projects operated by five active NGOs in Wajir County. The key informants, including 25 project managers, 25 M&E personnel, and one government representative, were selected to provide qualitative data using an interview guide. Additionally, a random sample of 173 project staff was drawn from the 25 operational projects in equal proportions. The questionnaires’ validity was ensured through the involvement of the researcher's peer colleagues and the researcher's supervisor from Mount Kenya University, along with a split-half approach to confirm questionnaire dependability. To determine the relationship between the research variables, the quantitative data was evaluated using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was thematically analyzed to complement the quantitative information. From the study findings and lessons learned from previous projects, the study aimed to provide recommendations for improving project performance through improved monitoring and evaluation practices.