Factors influencing the success of non governmental organizations' strategic alliances in Marsabit County, Kenya

Abstract

Strategic alliances are an increasingly important core element in many Kenyan NGOs' strategies to create and sustain their competitive advantages in dynamic market environments. However the strategic alliances are not easy to create. develop and support. This is particularly true for strategic alliances in the NGO operating in Marsabit County.

The purpose of this study was to identify gaps in the current NGO strategic alliance structures in Marsabit and show how NGOs can enhance competitive advantage through building strong and successful strategic alliances. The study sought to find out how the financial and technical capacity of partners and initial planning and implementation of plans and also how senior management commitment among NGO partners all influence the success of NGO strategic alliances.

This study employed a survey which entailed the combination of quantitative and descriptive research design. The study considered a total population of 439 NGOs which are currently operating in Marsabit County. This study used stratified random sampling technique. To obtain the views of the NGO staff. a self administered questionnaire was used in data collection. Data analysis was done using SPSS.

The findings of the survey concluded that all the four variables; financial capacity of partners. technical capacity of partners. planning and implementation of plans and senior management commitment greatly influence the success of strategic alliance of NGOs operating in Marsabit County. This is supported by the respondents significantly rating of all the four variables.

The survey recommends that individual NGOs should emphasize on the careful and prudent selection of partners and evaluate their financial capacity and technical capacity. and also give high priority to strategic alliance planning and implementation of plans and senior management commitment, as all of them affect the success of strategic alliances. The survey further recommends that NGOs should emphasize on building trust as the most important aspect of a successful alliance.