Monitoring and Evaluation Practices and Performance of NGOs in Rwanda

Abstract

Monitoring and Evaluation practices are amongst continuous routines in the tracking of key elements of the performance of NGOs in Rwanda. They include delivery on time, delivery on budget, quality assurance, and achievement of programme objectives. However, a review of the literature reveals deficiencies such as the design and implementation of programme objectives. Studies have shown that programmes that have weak or lack specific monitoring and evaluation practices on average record low rating performance as measured by scope, timeline, and resource utilization. The main objective of this study was to determine the monitoring and evaluation practices on the performance of Programme. The study adopted a descriptive research design method with a target population of 107 BLF staff. Slovin's formula was used to calculate the sample of 84. Instrument validity was ensured by input from two supervisors from Mount Kenya University. Data collected was analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative analysis. The study findings revealed that all independent variables (Monitoring and Evaluation Planning, M&E budgeting, and Level of participation of M&E experts) in the study influence the Performance of the BLF Programme (dependent variable). The Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the calculated value was greater than the critical value (51.000>8.3997) an indication that M&E planning, level of participation of M&E experts, and M&E budgeting all have a significant role in the performance of the BLF Programme. The significance value (0.000) was less than 0.05 indicating that the model was significant. The correlation analysis also confirmed the relationship between the level of participation of M&E experts and the performance of the BLF Programme was the most significant showing r = 0.709, P < 0.01, which was a strong positive relationship. The correlation between M&E budgeting and performance of BLF Programme was also significant, r = 0.439, P < 0.01, which is a moderate positive relationship. The correlation between M&E Planning and performance of BLF Programme was the least significant, r = 0.196, P < 0.01.which is the positive weak relationship. The findings reveal that M&E best practices have a positive impact on the Performance of the BLF Programme. The results of the study are meant to contribute greatly to various project M&E constraints that organizations go through. Keywords: Monitoring and Evaluation planning, Performance, practices, NGOs.