Assessing Factors Influencing Implementation of Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Project by Home Based Care Program in Jimma Town, Ethiopia

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.