Impact of Monitoring and Evaluation Practices on Compliance at Rwanda’s Great Lakes Trade Facilitation Project
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of monitoring and evaluation practices on compliance activities with reference to Ministry of Trade and Industry. Specifically, the study sough to establish the role of technical expertise of monitoring and evaluation, monitoring and evaluation planning process and challenges in monitoring and evaluation practices on compliance activities of Great Lakes Trade Facilitation Project. The study also aimed at improving monitoring and evaluation practices in relation to compliance activities. A descriptive research design using census approach was used. The target population comprised of employees of Ministry of Trade and Industry with a sampled size of 96 employees in monitoring and evaluation divisions. Data were collected using questionnaire, interview guide and desk review. Data was edited, categorized, coded and computerized. Results showed that 52% strongly agreed that technical expertise of monitoring and evaluation practice on compliance activities play a role in technology awareness. Sixty three percent of the respondents strongly agreed that monitoring and evaluation planning processes contribute in identifying compliance performance and enhances project quality. The study concluded that technical expertise of monitoring and evaluation practice on compliance activities plays a role in technology awareness in Great Lakes Trade Facilitation Project in MINICOM. The study additionally concluded that M&E planning process on compliance activities contributes in identifying compliance performance enhancement through planning the implementation process in Great Lakes Trade Facilitation Project in MINICOM. The study recommended the Ministry of Trade and Industry to practice more M&E planning process on compliance. Community participation should be promoted because it gives the individuals a feeling of having a place in the execution of a project and this helps to ensure that guidelines are kept up.
Keywords: Monitoring and Evaluation, Compliance Activities, Theory of Change, Results Based Management
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