Efficacy Of Monitoring And Evaluation Framework On Implementation Of Development Projects: A Comparative Analysis Of Machakos And Embu Counties, Kenya

Monitoring and Evaluation, (M&E) frameworks allow for project activities to be measured and analyzed. There is a gap in the design of monitoring and evaluation frameworks to generate information during the process of Monitoring and Evaluation and use of this information in future designs. The purpose of this research study was to establish the influence of the monitoring and evaluation framework in the successful implementation of County development projects. The study was guided by the main determinants of Monitoring and Evaluation which are: Monitoring and Evaluation framework dimensions results-based performance indicators, learning capacity, participatory tracking, and beneficiary accountability. The moderating effects were government funding and disbursement of funds. The research adopted a comparative research design with a mixed method centered within a wider exploratory, cross-sectional framework. The study was conducted in Machakos and Embu County. The population of this study was 132 staff mandated to monitor and evaluate projects undertaken under County government devolved functions from Machakos and Embu County. The sample distribution was 56 county government officials from Machakos and 43 from Embu since the two counties are relatively not homogeneous in terms of geographical location in Kenya. A sample of 99 respondents was determined and individual elements in different categories were also determined using a stratified random sampling technique. Questionnaires were distributed to respondents through a “drop and pick later” method and were subjected to a reliability test using Cronbach’s alpha. Data were analyzed quantitatively by means of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). A normality test was conducted using the Shapiro Wilk’s test. Factor analysis was undertaken to determine which of the factors are important in determining project completion. The study findings indicated that the result based performance aspects (β1 =0.529; p-value = 0.007), learning capacity (β2 =0.680; p-value = 0.001), participatory tracking (β3 =0.455; p-value = 0.001) and beneficiary accountability (β4 = 0.432; p-value = 0.002) were found to have a significant effect respectively.