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DETERMINANTS OF MONITORING AND EVALUATION SYSTEMS IN DONOR FUNDED PROGRAMS IN KENYA: A CASE OF USAID FUNDED PEACE INITIATIVE KENYA


1Veronicah Ayuma Ruth 1Esther Waiganjo (PhD)

 

1Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology


CITATION: Ruth, V. A., & Waiganjo, E. Determinants of Monitoring and Evaluation Systems in Donor Funded Programs in Kenya: A Case of USAID

Funded Peace Initiative Kenya. International Journal of Arts and Entrepreneurship 4 (11), 1-10.

 

ABSTRACT

Organizations are currently in the process of reviewing ways in which Monitoring and Evaluation can achieve greater consistency and effectiveness in judging the impact of a project as well as getting recommendations on how future interventions can be improved. This study looked at the determinants of Monitoring and Evaluation systems in Donor funded programs in Kenya, particularly the Peace Initiative Kenya. Its main objectives was to find out how selection of tools and techniques, the role of Management, Monitoring and Evaluation training and technical expertise of staff contributes to the effectiveness of the Monitoring and Evaluation system. The study adopted a descriptive case study design. Primary data was collected from the Chief of Party and the Monitoring and Evaluation staff from the Donor funded project. The population of the study comprised of nine organisations. The study found that M&E tools and techniques had a positive and significant link with the M&E system. In particular, the beta coefficient was found to be 0.526, which was found to be significant at 5%. The results further indicated that there exists a positive correlation of 0.407 between the selection of tools and techniques used for monitoring and the effectiveness of the monitoring and evaluation systems. It was also established that the role of the management in determining the effectiveness of M&E systems was significant and and that it is positively linked to the effectiveness of M&E systems as indicated by a positive beta coefficient of 0.218 which was established to be significant at 5%. The findings also indicated that there is a significant positive link between staff training and the effectiveness of M&E systems. Finally, the findings indicated that there existed a positive and significant link between M&E personnel’s technical expertise as indicated by a beta coefficient of 0.284 which was also established to be signficant at five percent. Based on this findings the study concluded that the choice of the M&E tools and techniques plays a significant role influencing the effectiveness of M&E systems. The study also concluded that role played by the management in M&E is positive. Further, the study concluded that the more technical expertise possessed by the M&E personnel ensured that M&E is performed in the right manner. It is recommended that all stakeholders involved in Monitoring and Evaluation need to have certain competencies in order to effectively execute their part in operation of the M&E system. It is also important that all the staff be trained and exposed to Monitoring and Evaluation processes. This will ensure that they make good use of the project funds. It is also recommended that there is a need for a properly trained monitoring and evaluation officer to be designated in every organization to handle all matter of monitoring and evaluation. Further, there is need to ensure that Monitoring and Evaluation is build-in in all the programs from the conception of the program.

 

Key Words: Monitoring and Evaluation, Management, Staff Training, Technical Expertise


 

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