Factors Influencing Sustainability Of Community Based Projects In Samburu County In Kenya During Covid19 Crisis

Abstract

Community based projects are aimed at achieving social economic impact through advocacy on achievement of community needs, improving standards of living and empowering minority groups. Achievement of project impact is not guaranteed since they depend on donor funding, County government funding, National government funding, stakeholders support, ethical dilemmas and conflict of interest among stakeholders. This may delay implementation of specific projects that would jeopardize achievement of desired impact. Consequently, the study sought to examine factors influencing sustainability of community based projects in Samburu County. Explicitly, the study sought: To examine the effect of community engagement on sustainability of community-based projects in Samburu County. To find out the influence of project governance on sustainability of community-based projects in Samburu County; To evaluate the effect of project financing on sustainability of community-based projects in Samburu County; To ascertain the influence of project monitoring and evaluation on sustainability community-based projects in Samburu County. The study adopted descriptive research design and used questionnaires among 116 managers of the Community Based Organizations that were drawn through random sampling. Primary data was collected and was analyzed through use of SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics using measures of central tendency, dispersion, percentage and frequency was adopted. Further, correlation and multiple regression analysis was used. Findings were presented in figures and tables. The study findings revealed that community engagement, project governance, project financing and monitoring & evaluation have a significant and positive effect on sustainability of community-based projects. Consequently, the study objectives are key when we talk of community-based project sustainability. The community-based projects acts as a catalyst in economic development and growth in a county. Therefore, there is need to consider engaging the community from planning to the last stage of project implementation. The study also recommends that different sources of financing for community based project is important to ensure risk diversification and also to ensure enough funds are available to undertake a particular project as this will ensure no stoppages and hence a success. Training (capacity building) on project M&E be undertaken within the county government to enable them properly embrace stakeholders’ participation process so as to include all stakeholders in monitoring and evaluation of county government sponsored projects. Modern technology should be adopted to increase efficiency through increased budget allocations. The study further recommends that; Other studies should be conducted on the other factors effecting sustainability of community-based projects Contributing 41.2% of Sustainability as the current factors studied contributed only 59.8% effect on community projects sustainability.