INFLUENCE OF GENDER MAINSTREAMING ON PERFORMANCE OF CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUNDED PROJECTS IN KACHELIBA CONSTITUENCY, WEST POKOT COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract: Gender mainstreaming has become an issue of major concern in implementation of development projects around the world. However, several challenges have emerged on how to implement gender mainstreaming especially in government projects and in non-governmental organizations. The reasons alluded to for not implementing gender mainstreaming programs consist of lack of resources and awareness that can promote gender mainstreaming awareness campaigns. In other cases, there is lack of clear policies that can guide the gender mainstreaming process. Among, the most affected projects include the constituency development fund where majority of the people appointed to lead the committee are mostly men. In cases, where women are represented, they are always underrepresented and this affects their participation in decision making especially where voting is expected. This study therefore sought to address the influence of gender mainstreaming on the performance of CDF projects in Kenya: a case of Kacheliba Constituency. The specific objectives of the study were: to examine the influence of gender policy on the performance of CDF projects in Kacheliba Constituency, to examine the influence of cultural practices on performance of constituency development fund of Kacheliba Constituency, to find out the influence of availability of gender mainstreaming resources on performance of the constituency development funded projects of Kacheliba Constituency and to assess the influence of gender awareness on performance of the constituency development funded projects of Kacheliba Constituency. The study utilized a descriptive research design. The target populations of this study were 200 respondents comprising of CDF committee members, Project leaders, Community members, and project leaders. The sample size of 398 respondents was determined through purposive sampling. In pilot study, Thirty nine (39) questionnaires were distributed to targeted respondents in Kacheliba Constituency, West Pokot County involving respondents that did not take part in the actual study. Out of the total number of questionnaires distributed, twenty nine (29) questionnaires were satisfactorily filled and returned, eight (8) was incomplete and therefore considered not satisfactory for the purpose of the study, while two of the questionnaire was not returned at all. This represented a response rate of 74.36% which was considered convenient and hence acceptable for data analysis. According to Mugenda and Mugenda (2013), a response rate above 70% is well recommended for research purposes. The study concluded that there is a significant relationship between gender policy and the performance of CDF projects. The study results also showed that cultural practices have no significant effect on the performance of CDF projects based on β2 = 0.073 (p-value = 0.061 which is greater than α = 0.05).The study further concluded that a significant relationship exists between the gender mainstreaming resources and the performance of CDF projects, the effect of the gender mainstreaming resources was expressed by the value of the test t = 1.876 which implies that the standard error associated with the parameter is greater than the effect of the parameter. The study concluded that gender awareness had a positive and significant effect on the performance of CDF projects based on β4 = 0.327 (p-value = 0.000 which is less than α = 0.05). This study therefore recommends that gender issues should be properly articulated to be implemented. The study recommends that equal opportunity to participate in decision making should accord to both men and women. The study recommends that the constituency must ensure the gender mainstreaming issues programs are put in place to address gender issues. The study recommends that another study be conducted on influence of gender mainstreaming in the county governments projects in Kenya. Additionally, a replication study must be conducted in another county for there to be sufficient and conclusive results regarding the study. Keywords: Gender policy, cultural practices, performance of CDF Projects and gender awareness. Title: INFLUENCE OF GENDER MAINSTREAMING ON PERFORMANCE OF CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUNDED PROJECTS IN KACHELIBA CONSTITUENCY, WEST POKOT COUNTY, KENYA Author: Assumpta, Jemima, Onwong’a, Dr.Dancun, Nyaberi International Journal of Recent Research in Commerce Economics and Management (IJRRCEM) ISSN 2349-7807 Vol. 9, Issue 4, October 2022 - December 2022 Page No: 87-106 Paper Publications Website: www.paperpublications.org Published Date: 16-November-2022 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7327478 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.paperpublications.org/upload/book/INFLUENCE%20OF%20GENDER%20MAINSTREAMING-16112022-2.pdfInternational Journal of Recent Research in Commerce Economics and Management (IJRRCEM), ISSN 2349-7807, Paper Publications, Website: www.paperpublications.or