Monitoring And Evaluation And Performance Of Constituency Development Fund Projects In Garissa County , Kenya

ABSTRACT

Monitoring and evaluation is a crucial aspect of project management which collects systematic data of any project fro inception to implementation.The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Act of kenyaand Implementation Guidelines from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Board focuses on the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) projects monitoring and evaluation, a responsibility tied ondifferent stakeholders of the project. Overtime, there have been various and varying problems facing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) operations that results topoor performance of the projects. Some of the issues include, improper project implementation a factor that hinders the project’s accomplition time.Qualified expertise’ advice is ignored, public participation is not taken to account, data collected through M&E is not utilized to make informed decisions in regard to the projects. In regard to CDF management, the study’s objectives involve assessing the influence of technical expertise on CDF’s performance in establishing the impact of stakeholder participation of CDF projects. Besides, the study focuses on investigating the impact of approach/design of the progress of CDF projects and in determining the impact of feedback of performance of CDF projects in Garissa County, Kenya. In the end of it some projects do not get completed and when they do,do not meet the threshold impact or outcomes envisgaged in such projects leading to watse of public funds.The scope of the study was Laisamis constituency development fund 2014/2015 approved projects in Garissa County.This study employed a descriptive survey research design.The target population was 71 respondents from which a census was carried out. Numerical data collected using questionnaire was coded and analyzed with help of a Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). Data collected was analyzed and interpreted based on the identified Independent variables and relate their effects on the dependent variables. Descriptive statistics usedwas frequencies, percentages, measures of central tendancy and measures of dispersion while inferential statistics was pearson moment of correlation and regressions.The respondents indicated that the M&E team incorporates relevant government departments’ officers and have adequate knowledge and skills. The respondents however disagreed to the statement that Monitoring and Evaluation is carried out frequently as shown by a low mean and a standard deviation. The respondents also agreed with a high mean that participation of stakeholders is essential to effective implementation of M&. The respondents also agreed that the stakeholders have knowledge of M&E practices. the respondents agreed that there are clear statements of measurable objectives on CDF projects as well as structured set of indicators on CDF projects. The respondents also agreed that There is a project monitoring & feedback system in placewhich is done on a monthly basis. It was also established that project monitoring feedback for CDF projects is a continuous process and CDF stakeholders are usually involved in Monitoring and Feedback of the projects.The respondents however agreed that the projects is completed within budget and implemented according to the original design. A deficiency in monitoring and evaluation is characterized by lack of technical skills among M&E professionals and other stakeholders, poor M&E approaches/designs, lack of proper stakeholder involment, inadequate means of monitoring and evaluation data storage, poor data processing, poor means of dissemination of monitoring and evaluation information. The study established that those charged with the responsibility of carrying out M&E, comprising officials from CDF management were not empowered with appropriate skills and knowledge, consequently it is recommended that they should be appropriately empowered with the necessary knowledge in order to have the grasp of these tools in order to utilize them. It is recommended that CDF management staff should include a quantity surveyor. More monitoring and evaluation professional should be employed in order to carry out a credible M&E exercise of CDF projects. It was noted that many projects had stalled due to inconsistency in funding and change of political leadership.