Critical Success Factors in the Implementation of Donor Funded Projects in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya

Abstract

Donor supported projects play a very important role towards the development of lower parts of Tharaka-Nithi County, one of the Kenya’s marginalized areas. For several decades now, they have relentlessly supported mainly the poor in the County by providing better health care, water and sanitation, shelter, education, environmental care, income generating activities among others. Despite these invaluable functions donor funded projects continue to play, there exists numerous unmet expectations among them as well as pre-mature project termination wasting a lot of resources. Minimal outcomes have been realized in the county which prompted this study that sought to explore the critical factors in the implementation of donor funded projects. Specifically, the study investigated the effect of stakeholder involvement, financing, monitoring and evaluation and technology on the implementation of donor supported projects. This study employed a descriptive research design targeting 34 donor funded projects operating in the county. The study adopted a census since the number of donor projects is manageable. A total of 102 project staff formed the key respondents for the study. Data was gathered by use of a semi- structured questionnaire. The study obtained 84 responses from the targeted 102 responses which translates to 82% response rate. Data analysis encompassed both qualitative and quantitative techniques. SPSS 20 aided in generating descriptive statistics while data was presented using tables. To determine the relationship in the study variables, correlation and regression analysis was employed. The study established a positive effect of stakeholder involvement, financing, Monitoring and Evaluation and Technology on implementation of donor funded projects in Tharaka Nithi County. The study concludes that the involvement of key beneficiaries in important project activities is low. The study further concludes that fundraising/resources mobilization among donor funded projects is low, with majority of the projects relying on funds from their main sponsoring organizations. The study recommends promotion of stakeholder involvement by donors and sponsoring organization, enhanced financing through resource mobilization, enhanced monitoring and evaluation and a boost in technology through internet and enhanced software in project implementation.