Monitoring and evaluation, project performajce and socio-economic development of selected municipalities in northern region, Ghana

Abstract

Monitoring and evaluation form an integral part of the project cycle and goodmanagement practice. Monitoring and evaluation is fundamental to achieving project goals, objectives and success. The study examines monitoring and evaluation, project performance and socio-economic development of selected areas in Northern Region, Ghana. The study adopted-quasi-experimental design with a mixed method. The study used purposive and convenience sampling techniques to select the study participa~ts. The instruments used for the data collection were questiollilaire and interview guide. The study used SPSS version 24 to process the data with descriptive statistics, correlation and comparative analysis of the study variables. It further used regression analysis and structure equation model to determine the relationship between the monitoring and evaluation, project performance and socioeconomic development. The study revealed that the monitoring teams conducted monitoring and evaluation of their projects, however the monitoring teams did not have formal training in monitoring and evaluation. Additionally, the study revealed that monitoring and evaluations are mandatory and are carried out in the MMDAs. The study further reveaied that the determinants of M&E include; Organizational Management/leadership, Allocation of Timelines, and Training of Employees. The results show that M&E teams experience • • ':' 1: difficulties in using the M&E tools and methods and lack of qualified personnel to handle the.M&E tools. The study shows that Access to education, Access to Health and Economic activities are the effects of M&E on socio economic development in the selected Municipalities. An integrated system of all actors in the chain ofM&E model is developed to enhance accelerated socioeconomic development in the selected municipalities in Northern Region. The study recommends that Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development should employ professionals in monitoring and evaluation to handle monitoring issues in the MMDAs. Staff of the MMDAs and key stakeholders in the communities should be trained on the different types of monitoring and evaluation tools and how to use these tools during project implementation. Government, the MMDAs and donors should put in more fmancial resources to take care of M&E at the early stage of the project initiation. Government should also decentralize the recruitment of special needs staff like the M&E experts to carry out monitoring and evaluation at the MMDAs level to give management the opportunity to employ them when the need arises.