STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE OF COMMUNITY-BASED WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE PROJECTS IN MAKUENI COUNTY, KENYA

Grace Waiharo, Dr. Kenneth Otieno

Abstract


This research examines stakeholder engagement and the performance of community-based WASH projects in the region. The study was guided by the following objectives: to determine the role of donor engagement, and beneficiary participation in the performance of WASH projects in Makueni County. The research was conducted in Makueni County, focusing on WASH projects implemented between 2018 and 2023. The research study utilised a descriptive survey design. This study used a structured questionnaire to obtain primary data from 106 participants. The collected data was cleaned and analysed using SPSS Statistics V22.0 software. Quantitative data analysis used descriptive statistics. Content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data collected from the open-ended questions. Correlation and regression analysis were used to establish a connection between the variables of interest. Donor engagement and beneficiary participation had significant positive correlations with the performance of WASH projects (p<.001). Regression analysis indicated that 75.3% of the variability in the performance of WASH projects could be accounted for by donor engagement and beneficiary participation. Per the regression model, donor engagement (B=.698, t=3.921, p<.001), beneficiary participation (B=.366, t=7.957, p<.001), were significant positive predictors of WASH project performance. The study recommends that donors increase their involvement throughout the entire project lifecycle, from planning to execution, to ensure that projects align with the community's evolving needs. Beneficiaries should be provided with engagement forums to give feedback and raise concerns. Additionally, they should receive training to enhance their capacity for involvement in the project, enabling them to sustain WASH initiatives after project completion.

Key Words: Stakeholder Engagement, Performance, Community-Based WASH Projects, Donor Engagement, Beneficiary Participation


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