Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation and Project Performance: A case of Amaka Project of Infectious Disease Institute

Abstract

The study explored the relationship between participatory monitoring and evaluation and project performance in community development projects in Uganda with specific reference to Adult Male Medical circumcision in Kampala project (AMAKA). The specific objectives of the study were to establish the relationship between community involvement in participatory monitoring and evaluation; to investigate the relationship between community empowerment in participatory monitoring and evaluation and to find out the relationship between resource use and accountability in participatory monitoring and evaluation, all with project performance at AMAKA project. A descriptive survey research design was used supported with both qualitative and quantitative approaches. A sample size of 336 respondents was used. Triangulation of data collection methods and tools were embedded in the study. The study found a positive correlation between participatory monitoring and evaluation; similarly, community involvement in participatory monitoring and evaluation was significant in enhancing project performance; in addition, community empowerment in participatory monitoring and evaluation was a relevant ingredient for project performance. Further still, study results confirmed that resource use and accountability in participatory monitoring and evaluation provide fertile ground for projects to achieve project performance. This study recommends that AMAKA project puts in place a mechanism of integrating community indicators within project level indicators and strengthen information feedback process between community beneficiaries and the project. It further recommends development of a capacity building strategy for PM&E where learning and ownership is encouraged so that project deliverables are accomplished within project scope of time, generate stakeholder satisfaction and contribute to project relevance. The study proposes that a similar study be undertaken in a larger section of multiple community led projects to produce new or added findings on how participatory monitoring and evaluation contributes to project performance.