Effects of monitoring and evaluation planning on implementation of poverty alleviation mariculture projects in the coast of Kenya

Abstract

Mariculture was introduced in Kenya in 1980s to provide economic opportunities to coastal communities and address the widespread poverty and livelihood needs with varying degrees of success and failures. A cross sectional survey was undertaken in Kwale, Mombasa and Kilifi Counties of the coast of Kenya. The study aimed at assessing the effects of monitoring and evaluation planning on implementation of poverty alleviation mariculture projects with focus on examining the effect of timeliness, tracking progress, periodic reporting, mid-term evaluation and end of project evaluation on implementation of poverty alleviation mariculture projects in the coast of Kenya. The study involved the application of factor analysis, correlation analysis and regression analysis. Factor analysis revealed that outcome effectiveness was the main measure of implementation of poverty alleviation mariculture projects while tracking progress and timeliness were the main measures of monitoring and evaluation planning. A correlation analysis showed a strong positive relationship between outcome effectiveness and tracking progress and timeliness (r = 0.693 and r = 0.723, p = 0.001, respectively). Regression analysis confirmed that timeliness and tracking progress had significant positive relationship with outcome effectiveness (β = 0.538, t = 12.058 and β = 0.491, t = 10.993, p < 0.0005, respectively); where, β = standardized beta value, p = the probability of obtaining results as extreme as the observed results of a statistical hypothesis test, assuming that the null hypothesis is correct. This means there was a significant positive relationship between monitoring and evaluation planning and mariculture project implementation.