Factors influencing implementation of drought recovery projects in Kathonzweni sub-county, Makueni county, Kenya

Abstract

Food insecurity persists in Kathonzweni Sub County as over 60% of the population in the Sub County rely on relief food distribution every drought year. Despite significant food, security projects initiatives in the Sub County, food insecurity and extreme rural poverty has continued to pose major socio-economic problems to many households in the Sub County. The transition rate of food poor households to self-reliance of food supplies has largely remained inadequate. Many of the beneficiaries of the state sponsored food security project interventions have frequently failed to put in place measures for self-reliance once the sponsored project interventions get to an end and therefore food security has remained elusive. This study was carried out purposed to assess the factors which influence implementation of drought recovery projects in the Sub County. The specific objectives of the study were ; to establish how food rations transfers to the targeted beneficiaries affect the implementation of drought recovery projects; to examine how partners’ roles affect the implementation of drought recovery projects; to establish how community participation affects the implementation of drought recovery projects and to examine how gender affects the implementation of drought recovery projects. The research was conducted in Kathonzweni Sub County in Makueni County, Kenya. It mainly targeted all the food security project initiatives implemented in the Sub County and the partners working together to facilitate the implementation of these projects (WFP, NDAMA and WVK). The study adopted a descriptive survey design and studied four divisions where drought recovery projects are implemented within the Sub County. Respondents were 99, consisting of 95 beneficiaries of the projects, a representative of NDMA, WFP and WVK respectively. Data was collected using questionnaires, interview schedules, observations and document analysis checklists. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, content analysis, and regression. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 16) Computer Application Package tool was used. The findings showed that institutional capacity factors investigated, the projects’ operations strategies used to implement the projects and technological inputs earmarked for these projects influenced their success but they are applied to low extents in the Sub County. The findings revealed that the factors investigated (food ration, partners roles , community participation and gender mainstreaming) accounted for 42.1% variability in drought recover projects success in the Sub County while the remaining percentage was due to other factors. The study concluded that the projects are not delivering what they are supposed to, do not get results, and do not meet stakeholders’ expectations. They were found to be failing due to low extent application of desired implementation factors, low extent applications of collaboration and partnership of all stakeholders, and very low application of targeted technological inputs meant to drive these projects to success. The study therefore recommended that, Community involvement at all stages of project cycle, Advocacy on funding and dependency to sustain the project rather than over reliance on donor, advocate on adoption to climatic change and finally National and County government to support addressing food insecurity situation.