Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation Practices and Performance of Community-Based Irrigation Projects in Western Kenya

Abstract

The performance of Community-Based Irrigation Projects is vital for improving livelihoods and ensuring food security in arid and semi-arid regions. This study examined the influence of participatory monitoring and evaluation (M&E) practices on the performance of Community-Based Irrigation Projects in Western Kenya. The research was guided by the need to understand how community involvement in M&E can lead to more effective and sustainable project outcomes.

Adopting Explanatory sequential mixed method design, the study utilized a census of the entire target population of 111 participants from 12 Community-Based Irrigation Projects. The population included project managers, farmers, and members of Water Users Associations, among others. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. The research instrument was validated content validity, achieving a Cronbach's alpha of over 0.70, ensuring its reliability. Data analysis employed both descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation and simple and multiple linear regression). Five null hypotheses were tested at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between all four participatory M&E practices and the performance of the irrigation projects. Specifically, the study found that participatory M&E planning, data collection, data analysis, and utilization of findings each had a statistically significant influence on project performance (p<0.05). The combined effect of all four practices on performance was also found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). The study concluded that a holistic and integrated participatory M&E process significantly enhances the performance of Community-Based Irrigation Projects. The findings are expected to inform policymakers and development practitioners on strategies to foster greater community ownership and improve the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of irrigation initiatives in Western Kenya and beyond.