| dc.description.abstract | Monitoring and evaluation practices are critical to the performance of program implementation. Several studies' findings have established a link between M&E practices and program success. This study aimed to assess the influence of Monitoring and Evaluation practices on the performance of the government's Agricultural Affordable Inputs Program (AIP) in Lilongwe district Malawi. The study had four objectives: to establish the influence of M&E stakeholder engagement, to assess the influence of M&E planning, to investigate the influence of M&E budgetary allocation and to examine the influence of M&E technical expertise on the performance AIP in Lilongwe district Malawi. The theoretical framework included program theory, resultsbased management theory, resource-based theory, and expertise theory. The study adopted quantitative research methodology. The research site was Lilongwe district, Malawi. The study engaged 60 participants comprising of AIP staff, Ministry of Agriculture extension officers and stakeholders. Census method was used to select respondents. The study used a closed ended questionnaire self-administered by the respondents at their convenient time. The researcher sought for authorization from Africa Nazarene University, the Ministry of Agriculture through the Agricultural Development Division, and all respondents to perform the study. Descriptive data analysis technique was used to address the study objectives. The study’s conclusion and recommendations were based on the data analysis results. The researcher facilitated pilot test to measure data collecting tool reliability and validity with support from Catholic Relief Services MEAL department colleagues. SPSS version 23 software was used for data analysis to draw mean, standard deviation and make inferences of the findings. The study's findings revealed both support and contradictions from previous studies. In relation to the study's findings Stakeholder analysis and program plan development should involve all necessary stakeholders. A comprehensive and realistic AIP program plan should be developed with logic framework details. For the successful implementation of M&E activities that track program progress and performance, an independent M&E budget is required. The study recommends that the Malawian government develop a stakeholders engagement strategy and policy that will provide guidelines for stakeholder participation in the AIP program from design to evaluation. To accommodate the program's start and end dates, a realistic and comprehensive plan should be developed. A separate M&E budget should be set aside for the effective implementation of the program's M&E system. The program team must be equipped to conduct M&E activities that support the AIP program. A comparative study on non-state Agricultural Affordable Input Programs would be ideal for drawing conclusions on effective M&E practices used by the government and other implementing agencies to assess AIP performance. | en_US |
