Effects of Project Design Practices on Implementation of Poverty Alleviation Mariculture Projects in the Coast of Kenya

Abstract

This research was carried out in Kwale, Mombasa and Kilifi counties in the coast of Kenya. The general objective of this research was to assess the effects of project design practices on implementation of poverty alleviation mariculture projects in Kenya. The specific objectives of the present study were to examine the effect of situation analysis practices on implementation of poverty alleviation mariculture projects in the coast of Kenya, establish the effect of project formulation practices on implementation of poverty alleviation mariculture projects in the coast of Kenya, determine the effect of implementation planning practices on implementation of poverty alleviation mariculture projects in the coast of Kenya, evaluate the influence of monitoring and evaluation planning practices on implementation of poverty alleviation mariculture projects in the coast of Kenya, and examine the moderating effect of attitudes of local communities towards mariculture enterprises on the relationship between project design practices and implementation of poverty alleviation mariculture projects in the coast of Kenya. The research was based on the logical framework, results based approach, capabilities approach, and participatory development that provide the foundation for project design and implementation. A combination of quantitative and qualitative research approaches was adopted for this study. The quantitative approach involved the application of survey method in the form of a cross sectional design. A sample size of 189 was targeted and a response rate of 96.3 percent (182 respondents) obtained. The qualitative approach included in-depth interviews and key informant interviews that were conducted using interview guides. Descriptive analysis, factor analysis, regression analysis were carried out. Pilot study, reliability and validity tests were performed. Reliability was gauged against the recommended minimum Cronbach’s alpha of 0.7. Suitability of the dataset for factor analysis was tested using the Kaiser-Meyer-Oklin Measure of Sampling Adequacy which ranges between 0 and 1 with an index of 0.6 and above considered suitable for factor analysis. The Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity which requires a significance level of less than 0.05 for factor analysis to be considered suitable was also applied. The findings from factor analysis revealed that the dependent variable, implementation of poverty alleviation mariculture projects can be adequately measured by satisfaction and outcome effectiveness. These two measures can be collapsed to form one factor which was named effectiveness. Based on the pattern matrix, situation analysis practices had two important factors namely stakeholder analysis and needs assessment, project formulation practices had three factors namely food security, political goodwill and project ownership. Implementation planning practices had two important factors, appropriate budgeting and assignment of responsibilities. Monitoring and evaluation planning had two factors, tracking progress and timeliness. Attitude toward mariculture was a moderating variable with two factors namely attitudes towards benefits of mariculture and attitudes towards costs of mariculture. Combined multiple regression analysis revealed that there was a significant positive relationship between monitoring and evaluation planning (as measured by tracking progress and timeliness) and implementation of poverty alleviation mariculture projects. Further, there was a significant positive relationship between situation analysis practices as measured by stakeholder analysis and implementation of poverty alleviation mariculture projects. There was a significant direct moderating effect of attitude towards the benefits of mariculture on project design practices and implementation of poverty alleviation mariculture projects. It was concluded that implementation of poverty alleviation mariculture projects is influenced by project design practices with the multiple regression model explaining over 80 percent of the variation in mariculture project implementation. It was recommended that proper situation analysis and monitoring and evaluation planning should be made mandatory in the design of poverty alleviation mariculture projects. In addition, future research should cover both mariculture and freshwater aquaculture to bring out differences that the two branches of aquaculture may reveal with respect to the effects of project design practices on project implementation, and future research should take a more qualitative approach so that knowledge in this area is enhanced by comparing results from a qualitative study with findings of the present study.