ABSTRACT
Orphans and vulnerable children Programmes in Kenya are facing challenges of qualified project chiefs and lack of an extensive number of project administrators who have the applicable abilities required for project administration rehearses for effective project conveyance. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing performance of orphans and vulnerable children Programmes in Kenya focusing on unbound project in TharakaNithi County, Kenya. The study was guided by the following objectives to assess the influence of donor funding, social cultural factors, monitoring and evaluation and community participation on performance of orphans and vulnerable children Programmes in Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya. The study was grounded on system theory, stakeholder theory and theory of change. The target population for this study was 486 comprising of staff working with unbound project, community leaders and the beneficiaries. A sample population of 215 respondents is arrived at by calculating the target population of 486 with a 95% confidence level and an error of 0.05 using Nassiuma (2000) formula. The study selected the respondents using stratified random sampling technique. Primary data was obtained using self-administered questionnaires. The questionnaire was made up of both open ended and closed ended questions. The drop and pick method was preferred for questionnaire administration so as to give respondents enough time to give well thought out responses. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 25.0). All the questionnaires received were referenced and items in the questionnaire were coded to facilitate data entry. After data cleaning which entailed checking for errors in entry, quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation. Inferential data analysis was done using multiple regression analysis. Information was presented inform of tables. The study established that security concerns and public dialogue greatly influence performance of orphans and vulnerable children Programmes in Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya and that community participation, social cultural, donor funding, monitoring and evaluation factors greatly influence performance of orphans and vulnerable children Programmes. The study concluded that monitoring and evaluation had the greatest effect on performance of orphans and vulnerable children projects in TharakaNithi County, Kenya, followed by community participation, then donor funding while social cultural factors had the least effect on performance of orphans and vulnerable children projects in TharakaNithi County, Kenya. The study recommends that financial allocation should be increased to improve the OVCs health status and that financial resources should be estimated realistically at the time of planning for the success of the OVC project that human resources efficiency enables monitoring of OVC projects. The study suggested also recommended that parents and the community should be sensitized on the effect of some cultural practices which affects the children because these practices lead to increase in children being abandoned, increase in dropout rates in schools especially among girls, increased vulnerability to abuse, exploitation and violation of rights and high-risk behavior.
