Monitoring and Evaluation Practices and Performance of Maternal Health and Family Planning Projects: Evidence from the NPI EXPAND Project in Narok County, Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t2604Abstract
Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) is central to project learning, accountability, and evidence-informed decision-making. Yet, there is limited empirical evidence on how M&E practices relate to the performance of maternal health and family planning (MH/FP) projects implemented in pastoralist and culturally conservative settings. This study examined the relationship between M&E practices and the performance of the New Partnerships Initiative (NPI) EXPAND Project in Narok County, Kenya. Project performance was assessed through maternal health outcomes, family planning uptake, service accessibility, and stakeholder satisfaction, consistent with the operationalisation adopted in the study. Guided by the Results-Based Management Framework, the study employed a mixed-methods approach combining cross-sectional descriptive survey and correlational designs. Data were collected from 292 Community Health Volunteers, healthcare providers, and project team members using structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. M&E practices recorded a composite mean of 3.76, indicating implementation to a large extent, although monitoring planning and design were comparatively weaker than the use of monitoring results. The findings revealed a strong positive relationship between M&E practices and project performance (r = .897, p < .05), with M&E accounting for 80.5% of the observed variation in performance (R² = .805, p < .05). The findings highlight the importance of systematic monitoring, effective feedback mechanisms, and timely use of evidence in improving programme quality and responsiveness. These lessons extend beyond MH/FP programming to quality assurance and evaluation systems in community and health education programmes where continuous monitoring, learning, and evidence-informed improvement are essential. The study recommends strengthening M&E planning, feedback mechanisms, and the systematic use of monitoring evidence to enhance programme performance and quality.
Keywords: Monitoring and Evaluation; Project Performance; Quality Assurance; Maternal Health; Family Planning; Community Education
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