THE EFFECT OF STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT ON PERFORMANCE

OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOs) IN KAKUMA

NAME: APILI VAESSEN PATRICK

ADM NO: D54/NKU/PT/39161/2016
PHONE: 0702588104
MAIL: apili_vaessen@mail.com

A RESEARCH PROPOSAL SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD OF DEGREE IN MASTER
OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION OF KENYATTA UNIVERSITY

JANUARY, 2019
 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study

Numerous researchers and experts differ on the meaning of participation. The idea
differs to a great extent in definition and how it is connected. Its definitions are
generally impacted by the setting of its utilization. Some view participation as a rule,
others as a training while others consider it to be a final product of some procedure
(Moodley 2012). Some utilization the term in political circles to mean individuals
being associated with political choices, for other people, it is individuals having
sensible authority over choices of the association they have a place. For improvement
market analysts participation alludes to the poor evenhandedly sharing task benefits.
Still others view investment as an instrument to upgrade venture effectiveness. Some
would view participation as an end, though others consider it to be a necessary chore
(Mulwa, 2014).

Stakeholder Involvement is critical to the success of every project in every

organization (Moodley 2012). Mitchell, Agle and Wood (2007) suggests that in a
project environment, stakeholders are usually numerous, and can vary significantly in
the degree of influence. Stakeholder Involvement can take place in different parts of
the project cycle and at different levels of society, and take many different forms.
These can range along a continuum from contribution of inputs, predetermination of
projects, information sharing, consultation, decision-making, partnership and
empowerment. Involvement is both a means and an end. As a means, it is a process in
which people and communities cooperate and collaborate in developing the project
(Elbert, W., (2011).

Stakeholder involvement is arguably more important than ever because of the

‘interconnected nature of the world’ Fowler, Alan (1912). Any societal issue be it
economic development, poor education performance, environmental concerns,
ethnicity, terrorism affects numerous people, groups and organizations and in ‘shared
–power world, no one is fully in charge’ (Peter, Da Costa (2012).Thus it requires
participatory approach by all stakeholders in identifying and solving the problem
afflicting the society (Mulwa,2008). Attention should be given to stakeholders’
interests and needs in order to achieve common good and realization of project
objectives (Bryson, Cunningham & Lokkesmore, 2012) ‘People engage in what they
feel part of and value what they help to build. Engaging citizens and local
communities is indispensable when it comes to developing a sense of ownership in
decision making.’ (www.guardian.co.uk) Thus, to create a sense of ownership,
stakeholders should be involved fully in the project meant to solve their needs.
Stakeholders have power to influence the project outcome either positively or
negatively (Chinyio & Olomolaiye 2010).

Similarly, it has been questioned whether local and traditional knowledge really has a
role to play in today’s rapidly changing world (Briggs & Sharp 2014). The
assumption that local participation automatically improves legitimacy of decisions
has also been questioned. Powerless and poor people may lack the capacity to
participate fully, and so the decisions made in participatory processes might become
more biased towards enforcing existing power structures than would decisions made
by democratically elected and representative bodies.

Franke, V., Guidero, A. (2012) established that ‘stakeholder involvement’ in the study
programs takes on different forms in different stages of the project cycle. Despite the
time difference between the old and new programme, the nature and extent of
participation for the Most of local communities in both programs is generally limited
to information giving, consultation and contribution. Local communities are generally
not actively involved in decision making, planning, monitoring and evaluation
processes. Key factors identified as facilitatory in promoting stakeholders’
participation are the NGO’s long term commitment in working with the poor, staff
with knowledge and skills on participatory approaches, continuous community
sensitization and mobilization, and perceptions that interventions being implemented
are addressing participants’ needs. Poverty was seen to be main factor limiting local
communities’ participation. Other factors are contradicting policies and approaches of
different agencies working in the same area, nonflexible organizational policies, poor
community leadership and dependency syndrome.
1.2 Statement of the Problem

Project supervisors are continually anticipating seeing NGO projects perform well.
This includes completing the project in time, within spending plan, meeting final
result particulars, addressing client needs and prerequisites and meeting the board
goals (Cooke-Davies, 2012). Despite the quest for project success, many projects in
Kenya have continuously experienced time overrun, budget overrun, unmet end
product specifications, unmet customer needs and requirements and unmet
management objectives (Auditor general’s report, 2008). The high failure rate in these
projects could be due to failure to involve key stakeholders in project activities.
Despite wide range of knowledge on project planning and management, project
failure is still reported (ICAD, 2010). Stakeholders expect to be involved in decision
making process within the project cycle. However, this is not the case as complains of
exclusion are still reported. A study by Mbom K. Jude (2012) on NGO'S supporting
education projects in Garissa District have been conducted in evaluating stakeholders’
involvement in relation to project outcome. The researcher would want to find out
whether findings in other studies done in other areas would concur or disagree with
those findings of the selected project. Therefore, this study sought to fill the gap of
knowledge on the effect of stakeholder involvement on performance of non-
governmental organizations (NGOs) projects in Kakuma.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1.3.1 General Objective

The effect of stakeholder involvement on performance of non-governmental

organizations (NGOs) projects in Kakuma

1.3.2 Specific objectives

i. To determine the effect of employee involvement on performance of (NGOs)

projects in Kakuma.
ii. To assess the effect of beneficiaries involvement on performance of (NGOs)
projects in Kakuma.
iii. To establish donor involvement on performance of (NGOs) projects in
Kakuma.
 iv. To evaluate the effect of community involvement on performance of (NGOs)
projects in Kakuma.
v. To determine the effect of government involvement on performance of
(NGOs) projects in Kakuma.

1.4 Research questions

i. What is the effect of employee involvement on performance of (NGOs)

projects in Kakuma?
ii. What is the effect of beneficiaries involvement on performance of (NGOs)
projects in Kakuma?
iii. How does donor involvement affect performance of (NGOs) projects in
Kakuma?
iv. How does community involvement affect performance of (NGOs) projects in
Kakuma?
v. How does government involvement affect performance of (NGOs) projects in
Kakuma?

1.5 Significance of the Study

The significance of this study is to inform policy debate on participation-sustainability

nexus and add to the literature on the subject stakeholder participation and project
outcomes. To the Government of Kenya, the study findings and policy implications
thereof will be of significance in as far as enhancing development and improving
stakeholder involvement in community NGO projects.

The study is also significant to the community and the civil society in that it will shed
light on the relationship between stakeholder involvement and project outcomes. For
researchers with interest on stakeholder involvement, this study will examine the
relationships between different levels of participation and identifying the relationship
between stakeholder involvement and performance of such projects.

1.6 Scope of the study

This study will be conduced to establish the effect of stakeholder involvement on
performance of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) projects in Kakuma.
Kakuma is a town in northwestern Turkana County, Kenya. It is the site of United
National High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) refugee camp, built up in 1969.
The number of inhabitants in Kakuma town was 60,000 of every 2014, having
developed from around 8,000 out of 1990. Kakuma is arranged in the second poorest
district in Kenya and because of this destitution, there are progressing pressures
between the displaced people and the neighborhood network that has once in a while
brought about brutality. The population of the study will be the stakeholders in the
NGO projects in the region. The study will be conducted in between march and May
of the year 2019.
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