THE ROLE OF PARTICIPATORY MONITORING AND EVALUATION PROGRAMS AMONG GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS: A CASE OF EWASO NGI’RO NORTH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Tonny Mutuma Muriungi - Master of Arts in Monitoring and Evaluation, Daystar University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
The growing demand for organizations to improve project outcome has increased the uptake of Monitoring and Evaluation. Several studies have though established that in order for Monitoring and Evaluation to be effective it should be inclusive. The effects of Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation (PM&E) have enabled the government to improve on service delivery, however, with limited uptake. This research, therefore, was undertaken against this limitation. The study purposed to investigate the role of PM&E programs at ENNDA, which is a state corporation under the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. The study sought to establish the role, challenges, tools and strategies ENNDA was using to promote uptake of PM&E. The research was descriptive in that it described the role, challenges and strategies at ENNDA. The population for this research included 149 ENNDA staff and 12 community members. Non-probability sampling of 113 respondents was arrived at by calculating the target population of 161 with a 95% confidence level and an error of 0.05. Data was collected using questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS. The study established that lack of time, insufficient M&E skills, poor pay, lack of enough funds, inadequate staff, lack of skills, technological challenges, lack of awareness and poor infrastructure hindered Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation. The study concluded that PM&E contributes to project ownership, beneficiaries’ empowerment, inclusivity and sustainability. Therefore, the study recommends that ENNDA management should ensure that all the relevant stakeholders are empowered to participate in the Monitoring and Evaluation.