FACTORS INFLUENCING PERFORMANCE OF ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN PROJECTS IN IMENTI NORTH SUB COUNTY, MERU COUNTY, KENYA
Evangeline G. Kiambi - University of Nairobi, Kenya
Dr. Mercy M. Mugambi - University of Nairobi, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Every child requires basic needs to develop and grow to a healthy and responsible adult. A child requires parental love, care and protection in the early stages of development. The immediate family and environment of a child is critical in determining how that child develops because it is in this environment that they get nurtured, thereby experiencing love and acceptance, a sense of belonging, safety and security as well as developing trust, respect and confidence. Orphans and vulnerable children are one of the main problems of developing countries, especially sub Saharan Africa. In Kenya, VC are associated with malnutrition, sickness, lower school enrolment rates, drugs and substance abuse, lack of clothing and shelter and poor school participation compared to the less vulnerable children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the performance of orphans and vulnerable children projects in Imenti North Sub County in Meru County. The study sought to assess how management competence influence performance of orphans and vulnerable children projects in Imenti North Sub County, Meru County, Kenya. The study further sought to establish how resource availability influence performance of orphans and vulnerable children projects in Imenti North Sub County, Meru County, Kenya. The study sought to establish how community involvement influence the performance of orphans and vulnerable children in Imenti North ,The study also sought to determine how monitoring and evaluation influence performance of orphans and vulnerable children projects in Imenti North Sub County, Meru County, Kenya. The study adopted descriptive research design. The study was grounded on resource dependence theory, stakeholder theory, and public participation theory. The stud had a target population of 214.The respondents were selected using stratified proportionate random sampling technique where by a sample size of 137 was used. Primary data was obtained using self-administered questionnaires that were made up of both open ended and closed ended questions. The reliability of the study was measured using test retest method. The Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social and multiple regressions. From the findings the study revealed that professional and academic qualification helps the staff acquire skills needed to perform their jobs effectively and that experience in OVC related aspects influences service delivery in OVC projects. From the findings the study revealed that financial allocation/ availability improves OVCs health status, that human resources efficiency enables monitoring of OVC projects and on the fact that information communication and technology promotes knowledge transfer that enables individuals to satisfy present and future needs of stakeholders. From the findings, the study found that involvement in initiation and identification influences service delivery and that labor contribution ensures timely completion of OVCs projects. The study revealed that frequency of Monitoring opportunities for improving the performance of the projects and that facilitated negotiations and identification of gaps and suggesting the way forward. The study concluded that resource availability had the greatest effect on the Performance of orphans and vulnerable children projects followed by community involvement, then management competence while monitoring and evaluation had the least effect to the performance of orphans and vulnerable children projects. The study recommends that financial allocation should be increased to improve the OVCs health status.
