Effect Of Monitoring And Evaluation Practices On Value For Money In Development Projects In Nyandarua County, Kenya

Abstract

Despite the importance of M&E function, critical questions pertinent to monitoring and evaluation have been raised that centre on the implementation phase of projects. Admissibly, problems in project implementation and success continue to be witnessing albeit the fact that, M&E practices is deemed obligatory and are anchored in the Kenyan Constitution. In particular, according to Nyandarua County Development Plan 2019, only 32% of the projects initiated were completed in time and within the allocated budget with a worrying 68% of the projects still to be completed and experiencing cost overruns. This is in spite of the County Government admitting to returning funds budgeted for development projects to the National Treasury which points to lack of effective project M&E processes. This study thus aims to establish the effect of monitoring and evaluation practices on value for money in development projects in Nyandarua County, Kenya. Specifically, it examines the effect of M&E capacity building on value for money in development projects; evaluates the effect of M&E planning on value for money in development projects; assesses the effect of M&E structural framework on value for money in development projects and analyses the effect of M&E information use on value for money in development projects in Nyandarua County. The study was informed by social learning theory, institutional theory, structural functionalism theory and theory of planned behaviour. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The target population involved 96 project managers of the development projects in Nyandarua County. Stratified and random sampling was used to select a sample of 77 development projects in Nyandarua County. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics of frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation were used while a multiple regression model was run on the data in order to establish and analyze the effect of independent variables on the depended at a pre-set level of significance (5%). Findings showed that M & E structural framework had the highest, positive and significant on value for money followed by M & E information use. Also, M & E capacity building and M & E planning had the positive and significant on value for money in county government. Thus, the concludes M & E structural framework, M & E capacity building and M & E planning and M & E information use plays a critical role improving value for money in county governments. Therefore, there is need for project managers to employ the advisory skills of M&E experts on the use of M&E tools. Proper planning of the project timeline should be undertaken by project executives and project managers need to put into place a structural framework to guide the monitoring and evaluation process.