The nexus of nongovernmental organization water projects, monitoring and evaluation, and Kenya's Water Law

Abstract

The goal of this research was to explore monitoring and evaluation (M&E) practices among non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the Kenyan portion of the Lake Victoria Basin. The influence that NGOs have in international development, tales of development projects gone awry, and historically poor performance assessment practices among NGOs all raise questions about how NGO administrators assess their projects and understand the social impacts of their work. Monitoring and evaluation is one option for demonstrating project impacts and minimizing negative unintended consequences. Kenya is a particularly appropriate focal place to study NGOs because the country hosts many organizations.This research used a case study of three NGOs, to address three questions regarding development project M&E: (1) How do the NGOs monitor and evaluate their projects? (2) Which methods and approaches do NGOs use to engage the community in project M&E? and, (3) How do customary laws and gender roles in the community influence NGO projects? The study found that M&E approaches varied and that budgets and funder preferences appeared particularly influential in NGO's choices about their M&E activities. Results of the study also suggested that the NGOs favored projects where people from the community were actively involved. However, the degree to which M&E activities involved the local community appeared limited. Finally, results suggested that customary laws and traditional gender roles are still important considerations for NGOs as they implement projects.Also described in this research is the new role that NGOs can play in water management in Kenya. In 2002, the country undertook sweeping reforms to water management and moved to a more decentralized model. Water management in Kenya became even more complicated after the February 2013 general elections when a decentralized administrative governance structure also took effect. Despite all the transition in water law and administrative governance structures, Kenyans still need access to clean and safe water. NGOs can help by guiding citizens through the process of forming grassroots organizations known as water resources user associations that support water management and service delivery. The three NGOs from the case study provided examples of how NGOs could become involved.