Factors Influencing the Implementation of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Education Projects in Mt. Elgon District

Abstract

Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) live in circumstances with high risks and whose prospects for continued growth and development are seriously threatened. Intended realization of OVC interventions have not been attained as there is still a large number of primary school going OVC who are not in school. Fewer NGOs are also involved in OVC education projects compared to other OVC areas of interest. The research study’s objectives were to assess whether; financial management, project scope and monitoring and evaluation influence the implementation of OVC education projects in Mt. Elgon District. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The target population were 24 NGOs which are directly involved in OVC education projects, the study population involved 6 NGO personnel from each NGO who is directly involved in the OVC education project, at least one of; programme manager, programme officer, project manager, project officer, project assistant and a field officer, were selected and interviewed. A total of 144 NGO OVC education project officials were selected. Study district was conveniently selected. Purposive sampling was used to select respondents until the sample size was realized. Data was collected by use of structured 5 point likert scale questionnaires. Data collected was be analyzed using Statistical Package for social scientists computer package in descriptive statistics. The study revealed that access to funding was a major problem in implementation of the OVC education projects, a fact showed by 52% of the sampled organizations. The results also showed that the NGOs involved in OVC education projects play a big role in incorporating professionalism amongst their staff as 88% agreed to continuously train their project staff. The scope of the OVC education projects by NGOs also received positive results as most agreed to having a project scope that is 81% said the scope was specific, 79% measurable, 68% achievable, 41% realistic and 63% time bound. 72% of the project staff strongly agreed to the fact that the NGOs involved in OVC education projects value the monitoring and evaluation process while 79% conduct constant follow ups to the projects they have closed. The research thus recommends that Governments, donor agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders be involved in participatory approaches to resource mobilization that could support the funding of several local research to create a resource rich environment in which the NGO work should lead to pressure for performance and self evaluation. As an area of further research, the research also recommended finding out the factors which influence the donor funding to OVC education projects and which may give the required information to stakeholders for them to strategize how best to implement many more education projects that would benefit the OVC and possibly reduce their absenteeism and dropout numbers from schools.