Monitoring and Evaluation Systems in World Bank-Funded Climate-Smart Agriculture Projects: Evidence from Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Abstract

In response to demands for transparency in donor- funded agricultural projects, this study examines the role of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems in enhancing the performance of the World Bank - funded Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP) in Uasin Gishu County. Guided by the Theory of Change and Utilization - Focused Evaluation Theory, the research investigates M&E human capacity by assessing staffing and training level, experience and resource availability through a mixed - method approach. Data from 231 stakeholders, including M&E officers and farmers, were collected via questionnaires and interviews, analyzed using SPSS, regression, and thematic techniques. Findings reveal a significant positive correlation and significance (P=0.001) between M&E human capacity and project performance, accounting for 43.5% of variance, with a composite mean score of 2.28 indicating modest contribution. The study recommends tailored M&E training and enhanced frameworks to boost agricultural productivity and sustainability.