Abstract:
The main purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing implementation of orphan
and vulnerable children projects by home based care program in Jimma town, Ethiopia. The
study mainly focused on the influence of effective planning, management skills, project
characteristics and accountability on implementation of orphan and vulnerable children projects
in Jimma town, Ethiopia. The study adopted a cross- sectional research design. The target
population for this study was 378 comprising of staff working with OVC project, community
leaders and the beneficiaries. The study was based on sample size of 190 respondents. The study
selected the respondents using stratified random sampling technique. Primary data was obtained
using self-administered questionnaires. The questionnaire was made up of both open ended and
closed ended questions. The drop and pick method was preferred for questionnaire
administration so as to give respondents enough time to give well thought responses. Data was
analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 20.0). All the
questionnaires received were referenced and items in the questionnaire were coded to facilitate
data entry. After data cleaning which entailed checking for errors in entry, descriptive statistics
such as frequencies, percentages, mean score and standard deviation were estimated for all the
quantitative variables. Inferential data analysis was done using multiple regression analysis. The
study found that staff motivation and leadership influenced the implementation of OVC projects
to a very great extent & fast deployment and ease of staffing influenced the implementation of
OVC projects to a very great extent. The study found that accountability had a strong and
positive significance on the implementation of OVC projects & project characteristics have a
positive significance on the implementation of OVC projects. The study concluded that project
characteristics had the greatest influence on the implementation of orphans and vulnerable
children projects, followed by effective planning & accountability, while management skills had
the least effect on the implementation of orphans and vulnerable children projects. The study
recommended that management team should be trained on leadership styles and capacity
building on monitoring and evaluations guidelines should exist with more emphasis on reporting
and participatory monitoring and evaluation.
