EFFECTS OF PARTICIPATORY MONITORING AND EVALUATION ON PROJECT PERFORMANCE AT KENYA MARINE AND FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE, MOMBASA, KENYA
Nimo Jamaal - Bachelors Degree in Development Studies, Technical University of Mombasa, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation, is a strategic approach to management which equips managers, employees and stakeholders at various levels with a set of tools and techniques. Participatory monitoring and evaluation activities have not been completely adopted by managers in KMFRI. As a result this has hindered effective Implementation of Projects and realization of excellence in project performance. The main objective of the study was to assess the effects of participatory monitoring and evaluation on project performance at Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute. The study employed a descriptive research design carried out as a case study. The population of the study was 144 employees of Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute and a census was conducted. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were computed whereby frequencies and percentages were clearly presented in the form of tables and figures. The study found out that participatory monitoring and evaluation process engages stakeholders in joint planning and assessing progress, leads to successful completion of projects, financial capital is often linked to the viability of projects, participatory M&E brings financial mobilization practices by the communities leading to success of the projects and total quality management projects requires rigorous pre-planning which leads to success in project performances and influence change in its daily practice. The study concludes that lack of proper training on PM&E and inappropriate tools inhibit participatory monitoring and evaluation and lack of adequate financial resources was noted to affect the performance as well as quality of monitoring and evaluation. The study recommends that the organization should raise enough funds from the project sponsors or donors in order to support enough officers doing participatory monitoring and evaluation and general projects management and develop PM&E department to manage all monitoring and evaluation activities for all the projects in the organization.
