Stakeholder involvement and sustainability of women development projects in kisumu central constituency, Kisumu County, Kenya

Project sustainability has been a challenge to local, national and international development agencies. Globally, billions of shillings have been spent in communities to enhance the living situations of poor people. Donor funding act as a temporary driver for social change but sustaining the change is quite challenging. Unforeseen circumstances threaten the initial uptake of innovative project design elements. Potentially worthwhile healthy interventions become unviable once donor funding stops. Projects that do not meet economic needs of the community quickly become irrelevant to the community. The purpose of the study was to establish the effect of stakeholder involvement on sustainability of Women Development Projects in Kisumu Central Constituency, Kisumu County, Kenya. The study targeted 10 Women Development Projects, which have benefitted from donor funds. Survey and correlation designs were adopted. The respondents included 10 chair persons, 10 secretaries, 10 treasurers and 150 beneficiaries of Women Development Projects from which a sample 124 respondents was drawn through stratified random sampling technique. Structured questionnaire and interview schedule were used to collect data. Questionnaire was tested for content, face and construct validity with a validity index of.75. The reliability index of.85 through Cronbach's alpha was obtained. Quantitative data was analyzed through correlation model while qualitative data was analysed thematically. The findings of the study were presented in tables. Preliminary descriptive analysis revealed that stakeholders: were involved in project initiation and implementation (M=3.98; SD=.861); awareness campaigns were performed for project sustainability (M=3.84; SD=.718); were involved in monitoring for project sustainability (M=3.63; SD=.854); and were involved in decision making in the project (M=3.79; SD=.772). However, respondents were not sure whether stakeholders had interest in the project (M=3.40; SD=.818). Overall score showed respondents had agreed stakeholders’ involvement affect project sustainability (M=3.73; SD=.805). Correlation model provided a weak degree of positive correlation (r=.328) between stakeholders’ involvement and project sustainability. Project sustainability was approximately 10.8% explained by stakeholders’ involvement. The overall regression model was statistically significant (F-ratio =10.606; p<.05). The null hypothesis was rejected. Stakeholders’ involvement therefore had a positive effect on sustainability of Women Development Projects in Kisumu Central Constituency, Kisumu County, Kenya. Stakeholders involvement in project: initiation and implementation; awareness campaigns; monitoring; and decision making should be strengthen to enhanced project sustainability.