Factors affecting successful implementation of projects in non governmental organizations within urban slums in kenya. Case of children of kibera foundation

ABSTRACT

Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) face various challenges in the implementation of their projects. This study seeks to establish the factors affecting the successful implementation of projects in NGOs within urban slums in Kenya. To achieve this objective, the study was guided by the following specific research objectives: finding out how funding affects implementation of projects of Children of Kibera Foundation; establishing the effect of training on implementation of projects of Children of Kibera; establishing the effects of organisation structure on implementation of projects of Children of Kibera Foundation and establishing the effects of stakeholder relationships on the implementation of projects of Children of Kibera Foundation. This study was limited to one NGO- the Children of Kibera Foundation. As such the findings may not apply to other NGOs in Kenya because of the uniqueness of projects and project duration at the Children of Kibera Foundation. This study adopted a descriptive research design. According to Cooper and Schindler (2003), a descriptive study is concerned with finding out the what, where and how of a phenomenon. The target population of this study included all the employees at the Children of Kibera Foundation. As per the human resources records, there were 124 employees in the NGO. As at 31st December 2012. Following the high homogeneity among the respondents in the different strata, the study selected 30% of the target population for inclusion in the study. The collected data was analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods. Quantitative method involved both descriptive and inferential analysis. Descriptive analysis such as frequencies and percentages were used to present quantitative data in form of tables and graphs. Descriptive statistics involves the use of absolute and relative (percentages) frequencies, measures of central tendency and dispersion (mean and standard deviation respectively).The study also established that the strategies were implemented on time. The respondents explained that strategy implementation was influenced by several factors key among them the availability of financial resources to see the strategy implementation to the end. The study also concludes that the organization structure of Kibera Children Foundation affected the strategy implementation process. The study also concludes that stakeholder‟s involvement affected project implementation at the Foundation. The study recommends that the Foundation engages the stakeholders more to harmonize its goals and objectives with the aspirations of the stakeholders and reduce dissonance levels thereby increasing satisfaction. To enables employees deliver quality services, the study recommends that the Foundation hires qualified staff and in xi addition, it trains them to enable them deliver services optimally. The study recommends that the Foundation involves stakeholders in all its strategic management right from strategic formulation to strategic evaluation. This will reduce the levels of resistance hence promote strategy implementation processes.