Stakeholder Involvement and Refugee Relief in Uganda A Case Study of the Uganda Red Cross Societys Non-Food Items Relief Project in Bidi Bidi Refugee Camp

ABSTRACT 

This study was aimed at assessing the influence of stakeholder involvement on the success of refugee relief projects. The study was based on four specific objectives; to examine how stakeholder involvement in project initiation influences the success of refugee relief projects, to investigate how stakeholder involvement in project planning influences the success of refugee relief projects, to determine how stakeholder involvement in project implementation influences the success of refugee relief projects, and to how stakeholder involvement in monitoring and evaluation influences the success of refugee relief projects in the Uganda Red Cross Society. The study adopted a descriptive survey design, with the study sample consisted of 384 respondents selected from among the staff of the Uganda Red Cross, officials from Ministry of disaster preparedness and refugees, local political leaders and refugees themselves. Data was collected using questionnaires and the interview guide, and the data collected was analyzed using descriptive, and regression analysis to determine the influence of stakeholder involvement on the success of refugee relief projects. The findings of the study revealed that stakeholder involvement is an essential part of successful implementation of refugee relief projects, and that effective involvement of all stakeholders increases the chances of project success, specifically in the non-food items projects of the Uganda Red Cross society in Bidi Bidi refugee camp in Pader district. The study concluded that stakeholder involvement should be prioritized as a key element in project management, and that all stakeholders should be involved in all stages of the project lifecycle. The study recommended that all project stakeholders should be involved and engaged in the project activities in each phase of the project cycle because each stakeholder has a role to play in the various phases; that stakeholders should be trained in the requisite skills, especially in the planning phase so as to enhance their involvement; and that donors and implementing agencies should design flexible procedures in order to accommodate input from other project stakeholders.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION...................................................................ii

APPROVAL.........................................................................................................................iii

DEDICATION ..................................................................................................................... iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT..................................................................................................... v

TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................................... vi

LIST OF ACRONYMS........................................................................................................ xi

LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................. xii

LIST OF FIGURES............................................................................................................xiii

ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................... xiv

CHAPTER ONE.................................................................................................................... 1

INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 1

1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Background to the Study ................................................................................................. 1

1.1.1 Historical Perspective................................................................................................... 1

1.1.2 Theoretical Perspective ................................................................................................ 4

1.1.3 Conceptual Perspective ................................................................................................ 5

1.1.4 Contextual Perspective ................................................................................................. 5

1.2 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................ 7

1.3 Objectives of the Study ................................................................................................... 7

1.4 Specific Objectives.......................................................................................................... 8

1.5 Research Questions ......................................................................................................... 9

1.6 Scope of the Study........................................................................................................... 9

1.6.1 Geographical Scope...................................................................................................... 9

1.6.2 Content Scope............................................................................................................... 9

1.6.3 Theoretical Scope ......................................................................................................... 9

1.6.4 Time Scope................................................................................................................... 9

1.7 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................. 10

1.8 Operational Definitions of Key Terms.......................................................................... 10

CHAPTER TWO................................................................................................................. 12

LITERATURE REVIEW.................................................................................................... 12

2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 12

2.1 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................. 12

2.2 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................. 15

2.3 Review of Related Literature ........................................................................................ 16

2.3.1 Stakeholder Involvement in Project Initiation and Project Success........................... 16

2.3.2 Stakeholder Involvement in Project Planning and Project Success ........................... 18

2.3.3 Stakeholder Involvement in Project Implementation and Project Success................ 19

2.3.4 Stakeholder Involvement in Project Monitoring and Evaluation, and Project Success .................................................. 20

2.3.5 The Concept of Refugee Relief.................................................................................. 22

2.3.6 Stakeholder Involvement and Refugee Relief............................................................ 23

2.4 Empirical Studies .......................................................................................................... 24

2.5 Gaps in Literature Review............................................................................................. 26

CHAPTER THREE............................................................................................................. 27

METHODOLOGY.............................................................................................................. 27

3.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 27

3.1 Research Design ............................................................................................................ 27

3.2 Research Population ...................................................................................................... 27

3.3 Sample Size ................................................................................................................... 27

3.4 Sampling Procedure ...................................................................................................... 28

3.5 Research Instruments .................................................................................................... 28

3.5.1 Questionnaire.............................................................................................................. 28

3.5.2 Interview Guide.......................................................................................................... 29

3.6 Validity and Reliability of Instruments......................................................................... 29

3.6.1 Validity....................................................................................................................... 29

3.7 Data Collection Procedure............................................................................................. 30

3.8 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................ 31

3.9 Ethical Considerations................................................................................................... 31

3.10 Limitations of the Study.............................................................................................. 32

CHAPTER FOUR............................................................................................................... 33

DATA ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION................................. 33

4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 33

4.2 Respondents’Response Rate.......................................................................................... 33

4.3 Demographics of the Respondents................................................................................ 33

4.4 Stakeholder Involvement in Refugee ReliefProjects..................................................... 35

4.4.1 Stakeholder Involvement in Project Initiation............................................................ 35

4.4.2 Stakeholder Involvement in Project Planning ............................................................ 36

4.4.3 Stakeholder Involvement in Project Implementation................................................. 37

4.4.4 Stakeholder Involvement in Project Monitoring and Evaluation............................... 37

4.5 Stakeholder Involvement and success of Refugee Relief Projects................................ 38

4.5.1Stakeholder Involvement in Project Initiation and the success of Refugee Relief Projects..................................................... 39

4.5.2Stakeholder Involvement in Project Planning and the success of Refugee Relief Projects .................................................. 40

4.5.3 Stakeholder Involvement in Project Implementation and the success of Refugee Relief Projects ........................................ 41

4.5.4 Stakeholder Involvement in Project Monitoring and Evaluation and the success of Refugee Relief Projects................................. 42

4.6 Influence ofStakeholder Involvement on the various Project Parameters .................... 43

4.7 Barriers to effective Stakeholder Involvementin Refugee Relief Projects.................... 44

4.8 Strategies to improveStakeholder Involvement in Refugee Relief Projects ................. 45

4.9 Regression Analysis...................................................................................................... 47

CHAPTER FIVE................................................................................................................. 49

SUMMARY, DISCUSSIONS OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................... 49

5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 49

5.2 Summary of Findings.................................................................................................... 49

5.3Discussion of Findings................................................................................................... 49

5.3.1 Discussion of findings on the influence of Stakeholder Involvement in Project Initiationon the success of Refugee Relief Projects................ 49

5.3.2 Discussion of findings on the influence of Stakeholder Involvement in Project Planning towards the success of Refugee Relief Projects...................... 50

5.3.3 Discussion of findings on the influence of Stakeholder Involvement in Project Implementation towards the success of Refugee Relief Projects......... 51

5.3.4 Discussion of findings on the influence of Stakeholder Involvement in Project Monitoring and Evaluation towards the success of Refugee Relief Projects...... 52

5.5 Recommendations......................................................................................................... 54

5.6 Suggestions for Further Research.................................................................................. 55

5.7 Contribution to Knowledge ........................................................................................... 55

References........................................................................................................................... 57

APPENDICES..................................................................................................................... 61

APPENDIX I: Questionnaire for Refugee Population ........................................................ 61

APPENDIX II: Interview Guide Questions for senior Red Cross and Government officials66

APPENDIX III: Research Timeframe................................................................................. 67

APPENDIX IV: Researcher’s budget estimates ................................................................. 68

APPENDIX V:Krejcie and Morgan (1970) Table for Sample Size Determiation.............. 69

APPENDIX VI: Transmittal Letter..................................................................................... 70

APPENDIX VII: Acknowledgement Letter from the Line Ministry .................................. 71

APPENDIX VIII: Confirmation Letter from the Uganda Red Cross Society .................... 72