FINANCIAL COST MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY OF REHABILITATED COMMUNITY WATER DISTRIBUTION PROJECTS IN WAU COUNTY, SOUTH SUDAN
FINANCIAL COST MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY OF REHABILITATED COMMUNITY WATER DISTRIBUTION PROJECTS IN WAU COUNTY, SOUTH SUDAN
Oyiki Komakech Jackson Cirino - Masters of Business Administration (Project Management), School of Business and Economics, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Dr. Lydia Gachengo Wanjiku - School of Business and Economics, Kenyatta University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
In South Sudan, 30-50 % of water facilities are non-functional at any point in time, and only 10 % of the population has access to basic sanitation. Weak water sector governance, limited funding and funding absorption capacity, human resource constraints, and limited data for decision-making are among the major drivers of low water access. The purpose of the study was to investigate financial cost management and sustainability of rehabilitated community water distribution projects in Wau County, South Sudan under four specific objective: To determine the influence of cost estimation, budgeting and cost control on sustainability. Transaction Cost Economics and inter-organizational management control, Community Asset Based Model of Development and Sustainable Water Aid theories were applied in this study. Descriptive research designs supported by quantitative and qualitative data collection approach were used in the study. Quantitative data was gathered from a sample of 42 out of a target of 42 community water management committee persons purposive and census sampling technique using a self-administered questionnaire while qualitative data was collected from 6 chairpersons of the 6 rehabilitated community water distribution project committees using a face to face interview guide. Quantitative data for the objectives were presented using mean and standard deviation. To determine the influence of the dependent variable indicators towards the dependent, the researcher will plot a linear regression table. The qualitative data from key informant was analysed using thematic analysis or narration approach. The study established that cost estimation, budgeting and cost control had a positive and significant influence on sustainability of rehabilitated community water distribution projects of Wau County, South Sudan. On cost estimation, the study concluded that cost estimation enables project managers to set clear expectations with stakeholders. On budgeting, the study concluded that budgeting outlines the financial resources available, which further determines the human resources that are required. On cost control, the study concluded that controlling costs lowers the overall expenses in an organization. On cost estimation, the study recommended that project managers should identify resources that are required, the price of each resource, duration that each resource is required, list of assumptions, potential risks, past project costs and industry benchmarks, if any and insight into the organization’s financial health and reporting structures. On budgeting, the study recommended that the project budget should consider cost planning in terms of labour costs, material costs and operating costs. On cost control, the study recommended that the project manager should plan for the project budget to help for all payments that need to be made and costs that will incur during the project life cycle.
