Monitoring and evaluation processes and accountability mechanism in the NGO sector

Abstract

This research studies focused on monitoring and evaluation processes and accountability mechanism in the NGO sector with emphasis on Food and Agriculture Organisation in South Sudan. The study has three objectives, the first objective examines influence of routine monitoring on accountability mechanism, the second objective determines the influence of evaluation on accountability mechanism while the third objective assesses the influence of learning on accountability mechanism. The study adopted stakeholder and accountability theories. The research applied Krecjie and Morgan formulae and table in determining the sample size. The study used descriptive research design and targeted 59 program staffs drawn from widespread department of Food and Agriculture Organisation in South Sudan. The respondents were group into different clusters composed of departments within the organisation and selection was done using simple random techniques of sampling with questionnaires administered through kobo collect application. Data was analysed using statistics and data (STATA) software. The data analysis involved both descriptive and inferential statistics and was presented using frequencies, proportions, mean and standard deviations. A correlation analysis was performed to test relationship between variables. The correlation analysis results indicates that routine monitoring, evaluation and learning have significant and positive relation to the implementation of accountability mechanism. A simple linear regression analysis was applied in testing hypothesis. The results revealed that routine monitoring, evaluation and learning have positive impact on accountability mechanism at 5% level of significance an indication that organisation has an effective accountability mechanism in place. The research will contribute to the design of NGOs accountability policies that will be successful in reducing human suffering in underprivileged states through aid funding. The study recommends periodic provision of on job training and technical backstopping to staffs on the emerging trends in the monitoring systems to ensure adoption of best monitoring techniques and practices that not only supports gathering of quality and evidence-based information but enhancing accountability mechanism. Secondly, the study recommends strengthening of the evaluation processes through adequate allocation of resources to evaluation systems in order to support and unravels attribution and contribution factors on evaluation and accountability mechanism. The scope of the study focused on single organisation therefore the generalisability of the findings is limited hence forthcoming studies should contemplate of including more humanitarian agencies in their sample population.