FACTORS INFLUENCING SUSTAINABILITY OF DONOR FUNDED AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS IN IMENTI NORTH SUB COUNTY, MERU COUNTY, KENYA
Terry Nkirote Kiambi - Masters of Arts in Project Planning and Management, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Dr. Mercy Mugambi - School of Education, University of Nairobi, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Sustainability has been a major challenge for most donor-funded projects in developing countries like Kenya as most projects usually collapse after the donor withdrawal or projects closure. Several NGOs and government agencies have implemented projects, which do not last to benefit the targeted beneficiaries long after the donor exits. Generally, the donor funded projects lack sustainability aspect, which is contributed by challenges such as lack of participatory engagement by the community, corruption, political instability among others. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing sustainability of donor funded agricultural projects in Imenti North Sub County, Meru County, Kenya. The objectives of this study were to investigate how community involvement, availability of resources, training of project staff, monitoring and evaluation influenced sustainability of donor funded agricultural projects in Imenti North Sub County. The study was based on realistic evaluation theory, resource dependence theory and systems theory. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The study had a total target population of 135 and the respondents were selected using stratified proportionate random sampling techniques whereby a sample size of 70 was used. The Primary data was obtained using a questionnaire that was composed of both open ended and closed ended questions. The reliability of the study instruments was measured using test retest method. Qualitative and quantitative techniques were used in the data analysis. Descriptive analysis such as mean, frequencies and percentages were used to analyze the data. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the data collected from the respondents of the study. Multiple regression analysis was employed to establish the significance of the independent variables on the dependent variable. Data representation was done through tables. The analysis of the qualitative data collected using the open-ended questions was done using the conceptual content analysis. Based on the research, the study found that involving the community during the initiation and implementation stage of the projects influences ownership of the projects hence community derives satisfaction from this leading to sustainability. The study also found out that community involvement had the greatest influence on the sustainability of donor funded agricultural projects, followed by Monitoring and Evaluation then availability of resources while training of project staff had the least effect to the sustainability of donor funded agricultural projects. The study revealed that frequency of monitoring opportunities for improving sustainability of the projects and that facilitated negotiations and identification of gaps and suggested the way forward. The study concluded that community involvement, availability of resources, training of project staff and frequent monitoring and evaluation is very important for the continuity and sustainability of donor funded projects. The study recommends that there should be enhanced community participation in any donor-funded project and need to be part of the projects. The other recommendation is that resources should be adequate especially financial resources should be increased and budgets for the projects made. It is recommended that project staff be trained in the technical aspect of the projects being undertaken to realize sustainability, this will ensure that the staff have the knowhow and the technical skills to handle agricultural donor funded projects. Capacity building and training should be fully embraced. The study also recommends that the information gained from the monitoring and evaluation should be used to guide the project managers where more planning and management is needed.
