Project Management Strategies and Sustainability of Community Based Health Projects in Mandera County, Kenya

Abstract

Mandera County,Kenya has shown a lot of commitment in the health sector. However, in spite of the efforts by the County to undertake health projects; there is a number of projects whose sustainability have been in jeopardy. There is myriad of challenges undermining the sustainability of the projects developed. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of project management strategies on sustainability of community based health projects in Mandera County, Kenya. The specific objectives were: to establish the effect of resource mobilization and utilization, community participation, capacity building, and leadership styles on sustainability of community based health projects in Mandera County, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive design. The target population was 27 health projects within Mandera County,Kenya. The respondents were 81 respondents who included the community leaders, donors, the County health officials such as the executive committee and the chief officer for health. The study collected primary data through use of questionnaires. The collected data was analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics. The study findings were that there was a strong correlation coefficient between sustainabilityqof community based health projects and resource mobilization and utilization, there exists a significant positive relationship between community participation and sustainability of community based health projects in Mandera County, Kenya there was a positive correlation coefficient between sustainability of community based healthq projects in Mandera County and capacity building and there was a positive correlation between leadership styles and sustainability of community based health projects in Mandera County,Kenya. The study concludes that community members have individual and collective resources such as time, money, materials and energy to contribute toward their individual and collective health goals, if a project does not have the resources it requires to implement a project plan it cannot be prosperous hence projects obtain these resources from both internal and external sources such as stakeholders or community contribution and project leaders need to have clarity of purpose and tasks; good organizational skills; ability to communicate tasks and expected results effectively. The study recommends that organizations need to seek for resources from like minded institutions and proper use of resources enhances sustainability of community based health projects and determining goals should be carried out together with the community since this enhances sustainability of community based health projects in the area and community responsibilities in the health projects determine their sustainability.