Monitoring And Evaluation Tools And The Performance Of Irrigation Projects In Kiambu County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Monitoring and evaluation helps those involved with projects to assess if progress is being achieved in line with expectations. When planning for monitoring and evaluation, it is vital to consider whether appropriate funds and staff time can be allocated to it, since it is an on-going process and requires a significant commitment. Despite this many irrigation projects in Kenya continues to fail due to lack of proper monitoring and evaluation. This study investigated the influence of monitoring and evaluation tools on the performance of irrigation projects in Kiambu County, Kenya. The study was based on four independent variables which included strategic planning, stakeholder analysis, logical framework and baseline surveys. The study was guided by descriptive research design. The target population was three irrigation projects in Kiambu County, Kenya namely; Wamuoro Irrigation Project, Kawira Irrigation Project and Githuito Irrigation Project. The target respondents were 35 respondents comprising of 3 managers and 32 employees from the Ministry of agriculture. A census of 35 respondents was carried out. The data collection instrument was questionnaires. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and multiple regression analysis. The study revealed that strategic planning, stakeholder analysis, logical framework and baseline surveys has a positive and significant effect on the performance of irrigation projects. The study concludes that Strategic planning helps in analyzing current situation of the project, setting priorities, and focusing resources and energy to achieve better performance in projects. Stakeholder analysis is a critical component to the successful delivery of any project, programme or activity. Logical framework sets out the intervention logic of the project and describes the important assumptions and risks which underlie this logic. The baseline surveys provide data upon which projects’ progress on generation of outputs. The study recommends that project manager should establish a clear and meaningful strategic planning process, engage all levels of employees to ensure success, communicate to employees throughout and create projects to manage the strategies and prioritize all of these projects to ensure they are properly resourced. Proper communication should be done to all the stakeholders in order to ensure intended message is understood and the desired response achieved. Explore the value of the project to the stakeholder. Logical framework should be used with flexibility to planning in order to promote creative thinking and promote participatory engagement between all parties throughout the project life-cycle. Baseline survey need to be implemented in full for M&E to be an effective management tool that would influence project performance.