Monitoring and Evaluation Practices and Performance of Kenya Climate Smart Agricultural Project: a Case of Kieni West Sub-county, Nyeri County, Kenya

Abstract

Monitoring and evaluation, abbreviated M&E, are two processes that are essential to the success of a project. A key factor in determining whether or not initiatives are successful in achieving their goals. Utilizing M&E results in a more productive project implementation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ways in which monitoring and evaluation procedures influence the performance of the Kenya Climate Smart Agricultural Project in the farming of Irish potatoes along the value chain in the Mugunda and Gatarakwa wards of the Kieni West Sub-County located in Nyeri County. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect that M&E planning activities, M&E staff capacity development, stakeholder participation in the M&E process, and budgetary allocation for monitoring and evaluation had on agricultural projects in Nyeri County that adopted Irish potato value chain farming. This research was grounded in the guiding principles of participation, results-based management, and change. Descriptive research was utilized for this study. Using stratified random sampling, the population was divided into three different strata: stakeholders, farmers, and county project implementation units. There were a total of 667 farmers, 6 officials from CPCU county project implementation units, and 21 KSCAP stakeholders among the audience members targeted. The results of Slovin's algorithm were 250 farmers, but only 6 CPCU workers and 21 stakeholders were retained. Participants from the farmer sample size were chosen using a straightforward random sampling method. Quantitative and qualitative data were acquired through a combination of surveys and interviews using Likert scales. For the pilot testing, we used the Cronbach Alpha statistic to evaluate the reliability of the questions. Validation attempts utilizing content, construct, and criteria methodologies were carried out on the same instruments. SPSS was utilized in order to perform statistical analyses, both descriptive and inferential, on quantitative data. On the other hand, the evaluation of qualitative data was done through the lens of thematic analysis. In descriptive analysis, mean, standard deviation, percentages, and frequency were utilized; in inferential analysis, correlation and regression were utilized. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed so that a determination could be made regarding the nature of the connection between the independent variables (M&E planning, stakeholder involvement, and budgetary allocation), and the dependent variable (performance of KSCAP). The correlations between M&E planning, capacity development, budgetary allocation, and stakeholder involvement all declined as follows: r=0.801, r=0.785, r=0.713, and r=0.602. The degree to which the independent variables influenced the dependent variable was uncovered by using regression analysis. According to the findings of the study, there is a correlation that is both positive and significant between M&E planning and capacity development (p 0.05, F = 134.942 and p 0.05, F = 245.170). The participation of stakeholders has an effect on KSCAP performance (p = 0.05, F = 423.096), and the allocation of budgetary resources in M&E does as well (380.404). According to the findings of this study, M&E planning, capacity development, stakeholder involvement, and financial allocation all have an impact on KSCA performance.