Thesis:

Analysis of monitoring and evaluation practices on youth network's project performance in hargeisa, Somaliland

Monitoring and Evaluation practices are important for successfully completing youth network projects, especially in contexts like Hargeisa, Somaliland, where youth network’s projects address critical community needs. Approximately 65% of youth-focused projects in Hargeisa lack structured M&E frameworks, while those with systems in place often struggle with inconsistent data collection and analysis. The situation is made worse given that youth under 30 years constitute approximately 70% of Somaliland's population, making effective youth programming crucial for national development. This study evaluated the effects of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) strategies on the performance of youth network projects in Hargeisa. Specifically, it sought to evaluate the effects of baseline surveys, project planning, stakeholders’ participation, and capacity building on the success of youth network projects in Hargeisa, Somaliland. By exploring these aspects, the research provides a comprehensive overview of how various M&E practices influence the effectiveness and success of youth-focused projects in the region. Four theories: the participatory theory, the theory of change, the project management theory, and The Logical Framework Approach, were used to inform this study. A descriptive research method using survey questions as the primary data collection tool was used for this study. The target population comprised project managers, M&E officers, project team members, youth representatives, and beneficiaries, totaling 128 participants. The sample size was determined through purposive selection to ensure diverse representation across all roles involved in the youth network projects. Structured questionnaires were physically administered to project managers, M&E officers, youth representatives, and other stakeholders. The quantitative data were evaluated with the aid of SPSS version 24 software involving both descriptive and inferential analysis. The study also used a multiple linear regression model to estimate the value of project performance based on the value of M&E practices. The findings were mainly presented in tables. The results revealed that monitoring and evaluation practices, which included baseline surveys, project planning, capacity building, and stakeholder participation measured jointly explain the 84.7% variation in the performance of youth network projects in Hargeisa, Somaliland (R² = 0.847, Adjusted R² = 0.841). The ANOVA results indicated that the model was significant in elaborating the association between the independent variables and the project performance (F=160.119, p=0.00). In addition, the findings demonstrated that baseline surveys (β = 0.283, p = 0.000), project planning (β = 0.307, p = 0.000), stakeholder participation (β = 0.259, p = 0.000), and capacity building (β = 0.192, p = 0.000) were positively and significantly related to the performance of youth network projects of Hargeisa, Somaliland. The study concludes that the four variables of monitoring and evaluation practices, baseline surveys, project planning, capacity building, and stakeholder participation, are stronger determinants of the performance of youth network projects in Hargeisa, Somaliland. Based on the findings, the study recommends that youth network projects in Hargeisa should enhance baseline surveys to identify the youth’s specific needs and target value, prioritize project planning, invest in capacity-building initiatives for the youths, and enhance the involvement and collaboration of all stakeholders to optimize project performance.