Monitoring and Evaluation Approaches and Performance of Dam Project: A Case of Umaa Dam in Kitui County, Kenya
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Date
2024-11
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Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Kitui County, located in the eastern region of Kenya, has been the focus of various dam projects aimed at improving water supply, enhancing agricultural productivity, and supporting local communities. However, several of these projects have faced challenges that have led to inadequate performance. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the influence of monitoring and evaluation approaches on the performance of the Umaa dam project in Kitui County, Kenya. Specifically, the study analyzed the influence of feedback systems, stakeholder participation approach, logical framework approach, and results measurement approach on the performance of the Umaa dam project in Kitui County. The guiding theories for this study were the theory of change, results-based management theory, and the balanced scorecard model. A descriptive research design was implemented to carry out this study. The focus of the study was on the Umaa dam project in Kitui County, and a total of 45 respondents were selected from various sectors and organizations involved in the project, including county and national government, contracting, and consultation organizations. The study participants were provided with semi-structured questionnaires to collect primary data. Descriptive analysis was used to calculate frequencies, means, and standard deviations, while inferential statistics such as correlation and regression analysis were employed to assess the strength of relationships between variables. Prior to conducting these analyses, diagnostic tests were performed to ensure data distribution, including normality and multi-collinearity tests. Furthermore, qualitative data collected was subjected to content analysis. The study findings revealed that feedback systems, stakeholder participation approach, logical framework approach, and results management approach all had a positive and significant influence on the performance of the Umaa dam project in Kitui County, Kenya. Based on these results, the study concludes that feedback systems build upon the PM&E tradition and are compatible with logframes. Furthermore, stakeholder participation in M&E activities can ensure that all relevant stakeholders have a clear understanding of the evaluation process's objectives and purpose. The logical framework approach is particularly useful during the initial stages of a project to assess the relevance and usefulness of project ideas and concepts. Lastly, a results-based management approach allows project managers to effectively monitor the project's success, enabling them to identify any issues or successes early on. In light of these conclusions, the study recommends tailoring feedback mechanisms to the local context and integrating them into local political structures and processes. Additionally, project managers should engage with stakeholders during the planning stages, involve them in the data collection process, and share the findings of M&E with them. Lastly, project managers should conduct a problem analysis to identify the main problems and establish cause-and-effect relationships associated with these problems. It is also important to develop a clear, realistic, relevant, and stakeholder-aligned results framework.
Description
A Research Project Submitted to School of Business, Economics and Tourism in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Award of the Degree of Master of Business Administration (Project Management) of Kenyatta University, November 2024.
Supervisor
Morrisson Mutuku