The Influence of Monitoring Practices on Agricultural Projects: A Case of Selected Donor Funded Projects in Kisii County, Kenya

Abstract

The Performance of projects is considered a source of concern to both public and private sector. In Kenya Counties are useful engine and force of economic growth and recovery through provision of public goods and services. However, poor service delivery due to corruption, lack of accountability, nepotism and gross mismanagement in counties has increased the country's cost of production there by adversely affecting Kenya's external competitiveness and leading to loss of jobs and economic opportunities. Studies already done agree that monitoring practices is a determinant to project performance. Currently monitoring practices of projects in Kenya at counties are weak due to poor practices in place. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of monitoring practices on the performance of donor funded agricultural projects in Kisii County. The objectives of the study were to determine: the influence of auditing on the performance of agricultural projects; the influence of progress review on the performance of agricultural projects; the influence of scheduled follow ups on the performance of agricultural projects; and influence of management by exception on performance of agricultural projects in Kisii County. The study employed theory of change to draw theoretical constructs that enhanced description of monitoring practices. Mixed research methods were adopted in the study which combined quantitative and qualitative techniques. The study adopted descriptive survey design since it enhanced use of quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate one or more variables. The study targeted projects staff and beneficiaries (N=215) working of various agricultural projects in Kisii County since they were deemed to have relevant attributes, such as knowledge on monitoring practices applied to determine progress of ongoing projects. The target population for this study included: Project Donors/Sponsors, Project Managers, Monitoring and Evaluation Officers, Project Officers, Project Coordinators, Finance Officers, Project Communication Officers, Team Assistants, Sub County Agricultural Sector Managers, County Agricultural Sector Managers, Project Consultants and beneficiaries. A sample of 140 projects staffand beneficiaries working in various agricultural projects participated in the study. Data collection was done using questionnaires, whereas SPSS version 24 was used to run descriptive and inferential statistics. Analysis of collected data revealed that donor organizations regularly use audit practice to assess and track progress of projects. In addition, the study established that donor organizations undertake a participatory oriented auditing process, where majority of the donor organizations have the capacity to effectively cope with dynamic auditing. Furthermore, the study established that donor organizations use progress review tools to assess performance of projects, where routine progress assessment augments timely delivery of projects. In addition, donor organizations undertake data verification to enhance monitoring credibility and objectivity in addition to use of key performance indicators to review progress of projects. Results indicated that donor organizations have adequate capacity in form of skills to undertake scheduled follow-ups. Besides, the study established that donor organizations regularly involve stakeholders when undertaking scheduled project assessment, where scheduled follow-ups ensure realization of project sustainability related goals. Evidently, it was clear that donor organization use M&E when undertaking scheduled follow-ups. Notably, the study established that progress review reports have a statistically significant relationship with performance of agricultural projects (p<.05), while auditing, scheduled follow-ups and management by exception are not statistically significant (p>.05). These study results are expected to inform policy and form important entry points in enhancing monitoring practices in Kisii County.