Factors Affecting Compliance with Donor Reporting Requirements by Implementing Partners: A Case Study of the Inter- Religious Council of Uganda HIV/AIDS Programme

Abstract

This study examined Factors Affecting Compliance with Donor Reporting Requirements by Implementing Partners’ (IPs): A Case study of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) HIV/AIDS Programme. The general objective of the study was to examine factors affecting compliance with reporting requirements of IRCU HIV/AIDS activities by Implementing Partners (IPs). Its specific objectives included; to assess the extent to which communication systems affect compliance with IRCU reporting requirements; to assess how the management of donor resources at IRCU affects compliance with donor reporting requirements; and to establish how the existing institutional capacity of the IPs, affects compliance with IRCU reporting requirements. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study that employed qualitative research methods. Data was collected using interview guides, documents review and through physical inventory. The major findings were; there was inadequacy of computers and reliable internet connectivity by some of the IPs, the distance from the IRCU Secretariat was affecting timely submission of reports, there was poor documentation & record keeping, there was inadequate human resources and staff turnover, IRCU failed to implement outcomes from capacity assessments, there was inadequate introduction of reporting tools, some tools had specific indicators that were not relevant to some organisations, there was lack of strict reporting timelines, there were inadequate support visits, and the IRBs had unclear M & E roles. The conclusions are that; the existence of communication systems at the IPs, lack of/inadequate equipment (such as computers, phones and internet connectivity), reliance on physical /hard copy delivery of reports, unclear role of the IRBs in donor reporting, staff attrition and lack of capacity development plans affect compliance with IRCU reporting requirements. The study therefore recommends the following to IRCU; ensure that it purchases computers and invests in reliable internet connectivity, train IPs in proper storage of records/data, train IPs/ users on the new reporting tools developed, revisit reporting indicators for relevance and appropriateness of reporting, develop clear strategies for the retention of key technical staff, implement strict reporting timelines, increase the frequency of holding quarterly review workshops, conduct more joint support visits with IRBs, hold more one-on-one meetings with the IPs, define the roles of IRBs in Monitoring & Evaluation, and implement recommendations from capacity assessments