Thesis:

Analysis of women participation on implementation of Devolved funded projects in Garissa county, Kenya

Despite women comprising more than half of the population, they remain significantly underrepresented in the management and control of resources within society. Their involvement in identifying, initiating, implementing, and disseminating outcomes of devolved funded projects is essential for inclusive development. This study investigated women's participation in the implementation of devolved funded projects in Garissa County, Kenya. Specifically, it aimed to: evaluate the role of women’s management skills in influencing their participation; assess the impact of women’s leadership in decision-making; examine how access to financial resources affects participation; and analyze the role of institutional capacity and support structures in shaping women's involvement. The study was anchored on Cornwall’s Theory and Kabeer’s Framework of Women Empowerment. A descriptive research design was employed to survey a target population of 545 respondents, including 300 women in 59 registered groups, 78 Constituency Development Fund (CDF) committee members, 120 county administrative supervisors, and 47 national government officials. Stratified random sampling was used to select a sample of 230 participants. Quantitative data was collected, cleaned, coded, and analyzed using SPSS Version 24, with findings presented through descriptive statistics in tables and figures. Findings revealed that women's management skills (x̄ = 4.225) significantly influence participation, particularly through staff expertise in monitoring and evaluation. Leadership (x̄ = 4.295) emerged as a critical factor, with strong support for its role in project outcomes. Financial resources (x̄ = 3.938) had a moderate effect, while institutional capacity (x̄ = 4.133) showed significant influence, especially in staffing and technological support. The study recommends targeted efforts to enhance women's participation by investing in capacity-building for management skills, promoting women in leadership positions, improving access to financial resources, and strengthening institutional support systems within devolved project structures.