Assessing Determinants of an Effective Monitoring and Evaluation System for Community Based Projects in Rwanda - A Case Study of Early Childhood Care and Development for the Girl Child

The purpose of this research was to assess the determinants of monitoring and evaluation in community development projects in Rwanda and was carried out in the Early Childhood Care and Development for the Girl Child as the case study with the following objectives; to establish the extent to which availability of funds influences the effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation system on ECCD4GC project, to assess the extent to which stakeholders participation influences the effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation system in ECCD4GC project and to identify the extent to which organizations leadership influences the effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation system in ECCD4GC project. The researcher reviewed literature related to how effective monitoring and evaluation systems are fundamental if the goals of a project are to be achieved. Through setting up proper monitoring and evaluation systems; planning, efficiency and proper funds utilization can be achieved thus enhancing the performance of projects and the determinants influencing effectiveness of a monitoring and evaluation system for community development projects. The research design used was descriptive and analytical while the population was 66 employees of the project, due to the fact that the population was small the sample size was the whole population. Data collection tools were questionnaires, interviews and documentary review. Data analysis and interpretation was done based on percentages and frequencies. The researcher found out that the project uses funds allocated to the project strictly for the specified activities so as to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation; stakeholders are allowed to participate in preparing the timetable for M& E activities, the organization assigns clear responsibilities to stakeholders during M& E process, the level of commitment of organization leadership/ Management determines the effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation systems for projects and that the leaders always endeavor to clearly communicate M& E results to the concerned stakeholders so that fair discussions upon them can be made. The researcher concluded that the extent to which availability of funds influences the effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation system on ECCD4GC project are that the organization provides enough funds for monitoring and evaluation activities, there should be a separate budget allocation for M& E, there is independency in the budgetary decisions for the monitoring and evaluation unit, the organization ensures there is timely provision of funds for M& E and that funds allocated are used for M& E activities only. The researcher recommended that Employees of the project should work hard to ensure that monitoring and evaluation determinants are identified for proper compliance.