Effect of Monitoring and Evaluation System in Program Implementation: A Case of NGOs in Nairobi County, Kenya

A Research Project Report Submitted to the Chandaria School of Business in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Master’s Degree of Business Administration (MBA)The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of Monitoring and Evaluation Systems in project implementation. The study was guided by the following research questions: how does a causal framework affect program implementation at NGOs in Nairobi County? How does log frame/logical framework impact on program implementation by NGOs in Nairobi County? How does indicator matrix influence implementation of programs by NGOs in Nairobi County? And how does data collection and analysis plan affects the implementation of programs at NGOs in Nairobi County? The study adopted descriptive research design. The population of this study comprised of 10 NGOs in Kibera, Nairobi County. The study population and sampling frame comprised of 10 NGOs. The sample size of the study was 150 NGO workers; 75 implementers and 75 M & E personnel. Primary information for the study was gathered through questionnaires. Descriptive analysis was used to determine the proportions and frequency of the variables. Correlation analysis was used to draw inferences about the population from the sample and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used to facilitate data analysis. The study found out that to a great extent both casual analysis framework and logical framework were used as monitoring and evaluation systems in program implementation while indicator index and data collection and analysis plan usage was moderate in program implementation. The study further revealed that all aspects of the monitoring and evaluation tools were positively correlated with program implementation and statistically significant at alpha level 0.05. The study concluded that causal analysis framework is positively correlated with program implementation by NGOs in Kenya. It is concluded that as a tool of monitoring and evaluation amongst NGOs, causal analysis framework allows for consultation with potential beneficiaries as well as with program implementers, identifies the needs of the community and a good tool to be before program implementation. The study concludes that NGOs uses logical frame work mostly for strategy analysis, objectives analysis, stakeholder analysis and problem analysis. It is also concluded that logical framework guides the project evaluator to strictly scrutinize and ensure that the requirements are met. The study concludes that indicator matrix describes the projects objectives in terms of time, quantity, quality and place. This means that the indicator matrix should be developed with the participation of those who will be using it. It is also concluded that the findings from indicator matrix are used for monitoring project implementation, evaluating the interventions, planning for future projects as well as reporting to policy makers. The study concluded that NGOs had developed data collection and analysis plan which is capable of identify any limitations, biases, and threats to the accuracy of the data and analysis. Data collection procedure is as good as the end result itself thus it is capable of generating both internal and external assessments reports, data collection and analysis tools in place includes procedures, people, skills, and equipment necessary to systematically store and manage M&E data. The study recommended that the management of NGOs put more emphasis on the use of indicator matrix and data collection and analysis. The study recommended the gains already experienced from causal analysis framework and logical framework should be retained if not improved. The study considered only NGOs, future researchers could consider carrying out a similar study in a different sector or sectors to assess any variation in responses. It would be interesting to explore how the results obtained when the methods applied in this study are applied in other contexts for example in private sector. It would be worthwhile establishing the extent to which the findings of this study are generalizable to other industries, sectors or settings. Future researchers could also introduce different variables other than a causal analysis framework, logical framework, indicator matrix and data collection and analysis plan and test their effect on program implementation in NGOs

Community collaboration towards solving rural social issues

This proposed study examined collaborative leadership strategies for addressing and mitigating entrenched social problems. In particular, it aimed at establishing whether rural community’ social issues can be addressed through the collaboration of all stakeholders rather than one central command of leadership. The stakeholders include but are not limited to members of the nonprofits organizations, CBOs, grassroots organizations, the religious sectors, health centers, learning institutions, the government, and businesses (Crosby & Bryson, 2005). Why does this matter? Research has shown that employing an Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approach tends to lead to more sustainable community-driven development. Communities always have some indigenous knowledge that could provide a better perspective to solving problems. Most of the previous studies have focused on teenage pregnancy in light of urban communities, sadly the problem is more vibrant in rural communities because they are more vulnerable due to their social-economic status. This study was inspired by the increase in numbers of Teenage Pregnancy as a stumbling block for Gender Equality in Kenya. The study is ongoing in Kilifi County, a county with a population of approximately 1.5M, 60% aged 19 years and below. Kilifi County is one of the regions reporting an increasing number of teenage pregnancies and related issues (County government of Kilifi, 2019; Njoka, 2016). Data from the government of Kenya indicate that one in every five girls is either pregnant or already with a child, but in Kilifi County, one in every four girls between the ages of 15- 19 already has delivered a child. The county government of Kilifi (2018) estimates that 22% of teenagers are pregnant or have already given birth. We conducted an exploratory survey on local nonprofits organizations in Kilifi County working in the teen pregnancy context using Turning Point’s Collaborative Leadership Self-Assessment Tools which measures six constructs that have been identified as antecedents for collaboration. Twenty-eight nonprofit leaders responded and data was analyzed using diagnostic analysis to help understand the score of nonprofit leaders in enabling collaboration. In the preliminary results, Kilifi NPO leaders scored highly, this means that antecedents for collaboration already exist among stakeholders in Kilifi county, their strongest construct was developing people (µ=62.32) while their weakest was Trusting (µ=57.86). Further analysis showed that the mean between groups based on gender is only statistically significant in one construct of Developing People [F(1, 26)=5.341, p=0.29] meaning there is a significant difference between males and females on how they develop people. The aim of the study is to yield sustainable recommendations on what strategies going forward could be helpful to mitigating teen pregnancy and other entrenched social issues through collaborative leadership

Best Paper Finalist Session 2 Recording

Discussant: Adam Vanhove, James Madison University Chair: Brian Smallwood, James Madison University Through the Fire Again: Using Derailment Research to Lead Change in the COVID-19 Era Jeff Strietzel, Baylor University Ryan Erck, Baylor University Presentation Slides A Rural Perspective on COVID Responses: Access, Interdependence, and Community Margaret F. Sloan, James Madison University Laura Hunt Trull, James Madison University Maureen Malomba, James Madison University Emily Akerson, James Madison University Kelly Atwood, James Madison University Melody Eaton, James Madison University University Administrators Serving International Students During Social and Organizational Change Luda Patokina, Hofstra University Presentation Slide

Session 2a Recording: Advancing Non-Profit Leadership

Discussant: Andrew Schoeneman, University of Richmond Chair: Kai Degner, James Madison University Nonprofit Organizational Leadership Literature Review Margaret Sloan, James Madison University Maureen Malomba, James Madison University Small Nonprofit Collaboration: Exploring practice implications for rural organizations Terry Fernsler, James Madison University Karen A. Ford, James Madison University Presentation Slides Assessing Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches to Measure Program Outcomes in Human Service Organizations Katrina Miller-Stevens, Colorado College Zach Benevento-Zahner, Colorado College Gabrielle L\u27Esperance, University of Nebraska-Omaha Jennifer A. Taylor, James Madison University Mia Solberg, Colorado Colleg