SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS INFLUENCING SUSTAINABILITY OF CHILDREN REHABILITATION PROJECTS MANAGED BY NGO’S IN ISIOLO COUNTY, KENYA
Sarah S. Jillo - Masters of Arts in Project Planning and Management, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Prof. Charles M. Rambo - Department of Open Learning Programmes, School of Open and Distance Learning, University of Nairobi, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Several children rehabilitation projects by Non-Governmental Organizations around the world are still faced by drawbacks that adversely influence their sustainability. Specific socio-economic factors have been identified to pose diverse challenges that have resulted to most of these projects either vulnerable to stalling some of their operations or experiencing eventual collapse. This study particularly investigated socio-economic factors that influence the sustainability of children rehabilitation projects by NGOs in Isiolo County. In particular, this study looked into the influence of: community support, government support, Non-governmental Organizations’ management capacity and sources of funding. The study was supported by three theories; Resource Dependence Theory, Stakeholder Theory and Dynamic Capabilities and Capacity Building Theory. Descriptive survey research design was employed. Target population was 108; 18 Non-governmental Organizations’ managers, 63 Project Coordinators and Project Managers, and 27 Finance and Accounting staff. The sample size was 84; 8 Non-governmental Organizations’ managers, 55 Project Coordinators and Project Managers, and 21 Finance and Accounting staff in the study locale that were selected as respondents for the investigation. Stratified sampling and Simple random sampling were employed to pick the respondents. Questionnaires were used in the gathering of primary data. Data was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using SPSS version 21.0 and the correlation between study variables was established by use of a multivariate regression model. Frequencies and Percentage Tables were used to present the findings. Hinged on the investigation’s findings, a vast majority of respondents as illustrated by mean of 4.1 were of the opinion that in-kind donations of clothing significantly influenced sustainability of children rehabilitation projects by NGOs in Isiolo County. Additionally, research study findings revealed a majority of respondents as illustrated by a mean of 4.5 felt that government support in the form of provision of social facility influenced sustainability of children rehabilitation projects by NGOs in Isiolo County. Findings of the investigation also revealed that a vast majority of final sampled subjects as illustrated by mean of 4.8 were of the view that Non-governmental Organizations' management capacity in the form of number of Staff able to monitor and evaluate project progress significantly influenced sustainability of children rehabilitation projects by NGOs in Isiolo County. Further, a sizeable number of final sampled subjects as demonstrated by mean of 4.42were of the opinion that corporate world funding influenced sustainability of children rehabilitation projects by NGOs in Isiolo County. Anchored on these findings the investigation concluded government support in the form of provision of social facility such as; sports fields, parks and halls facilitates the process of children rehabilitation for new NGOs operating in this field. It can also be concluded that to enhance sustainability of their projects, Non-governmental Organizations should devise strategies that would enable them to diversify their sources of funding unlike relying on corporate world, foundation and donor funding. Anchored on the investigation’s findings the study recommends to enhance sustainability of children rehabilitation projects NGOs should adopt reliable strategies to win community support in developing agricultural practices for these projects that would contribute to their sustainability instead of reliance on in-kind food stuff donations. The investigation recommends since its variables explained 73.4 percent for variations on sustainability of children rehabilitation projects by NGOs, further research studies should be carried to determine the other socio-economic factors that contribute to the unaccounted for 26.6%.
