Project Management And Effective Implementation Of Donor Funded Development Projects In Busia County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of project management on effective implementation of donor funded projects in Busia County, Kenya. The study was guided by the following specific objectives: Evaluation of the influence of monitoring and evaluation, managerial factors, empowerment of primary stakeholders and factors attributed to donor behavior on effective implementation of donor funded development projects in Busia County in Kenya. Descriptive research design was used to undertake the study. The target population was donor funded projects implemented in Busia County, Kenya, whose number stood at 415 as at June 30th 2016. In each of the projects, the respondents were the project managers and a randomly selected community member per project. Sample sizes of 204 project managers and 204 community members  were selected to participate in the study. Primary data was collected with the aid of semi structured questionnaires. Data pertaining to the objectives of the study was analyzed using descriptive statistics, which includes measures of central tendency and measures of  dispersion. In order to meet the objectives of the study, descriptive and regression analysis were undertaken. Based on the findings of the study, all the four factors examined are validated as key in influencing effectiveness of projects implementation of donor funded development projects in Busia County, Kenya. Primary stakeholder involvement however has the most significant influence, followed by factors attributed to donor behavior. Whereas monitoring and evaluation is ranked third, the least ranked are managerial factors. Findings of the study reveal that effective institutional and management capacity is a recipe to effective project implementation as it encourages participation and involvement of the community in all the processes of project implementation, hence people feeling empowered. Involvement of community members and other stakeholders enables them to better influence the course of their lives and the decisions which affect them with respect to projects implementation. In view of the findings of the study, the following recommendations are made: Monitoring and evaluation is key to effectiveness in implementation of donor funded development projects as it determines the relevance, appropriateness, effectiveness, impact and sustainability of projects so that the information obtained can inform the design of future projects. It is of paramount importance to involve primary stakeholders in various aspects of projects implementation since it helps in building up the capacity of people to generate and influence development at various levels, increasing their access to and influence over resources and institutions. This in turn helps in achieving projects sustainability. In order to avoid delay in projects stating time, occasioned by delays in funds disbursement by donors, there is need for the donors to be informed of the consequences of the delays, so that when designing their policies, the process will be informed by strategic rather than bureaucratic thinking. Project effectiveness is often used in measuring results towards the vision, mission and goals attainment of the organization. It is therefore important that all stakeholders understand the project vision, mission and objectives and work as team members with the aim of attaining the desired results. This at times may call for working long hours and in difficult conditions, which requires that all stakeholders go an extra mile, without taking their eyes off the ultimate goal.