An assessment of factors influencing sustainability of foreign Aid projects: a survey of Imenti North district. Kenya

Abstract

Developing countries launch many projects aimed at enhancing development and accelerating economic growth. To achieve this they receive external assistance; foreign aid, from bilateral and multilateral sources to broaden the delivery of public services. This kind of assistance usually has a specific, visible outcome in mind. Its popularity is derived from tangible results that often satisfy both the economic and political interests in both donor and recipient nations (Israel, 1987). The purpose of this study was to establish the various foreign aid donor projects that have been established in Irnenti North District. This study intended to establish the factors that influence sustainability of foreign aid projects within Imenti North District. This was achieved through a vigorous data collection exercise, survey methods was used to obtain the needed data. The sampling design that was used was both non probability and probability sampling techniques, in which non-probability; purposive sampling technique was used in the identification; selection, of the five projects that were analysed. Probability; simple random sampling technique, was used in identifying the households that were interviewed. The study used a mixed mode research design, both the qualitative and quantitative research design. The study was a descriptive as well as correlational study, looking at two perspectives; both retrospective and the present perspectives. The type of analysis that was used was descriptive as well as logistic regression. From the data the independent variables, like needs assessment process, literacy levels as well as some management practises, were significant in obtaining sustainability. The study drew certain recommendations on its findings to the respective organs concerned; the policy makers, the foreign aid programmes as well as recommendations for further research, these recommendations were made in order to achieve project sustainability in Irnenti North District