RISK IDENTIFICATION PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCE OF DONOR-FUNDED HEALTH PROJECTS IN SOUTHWESTERN KENYA

Morine Nyambura Wanjiku, Dr. Yusuf Muchelule, Dr. Susan Naikuru

Abstract


Purpose: The objective of the study was to determine the influence of risk identification practices on performance of donor-funded health projects in Southwestern Kenya.

Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive-explanatory research design. The Southwestern Kenya region which for this study encompasses Migori, Homa Bay, Kisii, Nyamira, and Kisumu counties, hosts approximately 198 donor-funded health projects. The unit of observation in this study comprised project representatives drawn from these health projects. A census was adopted where the entire population of 198 respondents were studied. Primary data was collected using a questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential analysis were used in this study.

Findings: The study found risk identification practices to be a significant predictor of project performance at 43.5%. From the descriptive statistics, the overall mean for risk identification is 3.26, suggesting a low level of effectiveness in identifying risks, though there is a more consistent perception of risk identification across projects. Risk identification is practised continuously but lacks consistency. It uses participatory approaches and historical data, but improving consistency and systematic classification could enhance project performance.

Recommendations: The study recommends strengthening the efficacy and consistency of risk identification by adopting standardized procedures and classification techniques across donor-funded health projects. Systematic risk categorization should be reinforced through participatory approaches that actively involve all stakeholders, supported by regular brainstorming sessions and expert input to capture diverse perspectives.

Keywords: Risk identification practices, Performance of donor-funded health projects, Southwestern Kenya


Full Text:

PDF

References


Abu-Aisheh, Y. I. (2021). "Lessons Learned, Barriers, and Improvement Factors for Mega Building Construction Projects in Developing Countries: Review Study". Sustainability, 13(19). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3390/su131910678.

Adjagba, A.O., Oguta, J.O., Akoth, C. et al (2025). Sustainability starts with spending: public financial management lessons from Kenya’s universal health care pilot. BMC Health Serv Res 25, 1029 doi:10.1186/s12913-025-13194-7

Almoradie, A., de Brito, M. M., Evers, M., Bossa, A., Lumor, M., Norman, C., & Hounkpe, J. (2020). "Current flood risk management practices in Ghana: Gaps and opportunities for improving resilience". Journal of flood risk management, 13(4).

Association for Project Management. (2025). "APM Body of Knowledge" (8th ed.). Association for Project Management: Buckinghamshire.

Chapman, J. (2019). Exploring the value of risk management for projects: improving capability through the deployment of a maturity model, IEEE Engineering Management Review, 47(1), 126-143

Demisse, A. G. (2021). "Assessment of risk management practices on housing projects: the case of Bole Arabsa housing project". St Mary's University.

Doval, E. (2019). Risk management process in projects. Review of general management, 30(2), 97-113.

Erfani, A. (2023). "Data-Driven Risk Modeling for Infrastructure Projects Using Artificial Intelligence Techniques". PhD thesis, University of Maryland.

Fang, Y. (2023). "Stakeholder Behaviour and Management During the Course of a Project: A Case Study on Green Energy Project Operation". Master's in industrial management and innovation, Uppsala University.

Fazly, R., Raees, N., Shafi, M. Q., & Iqbal, S. (2024). "Impact of project planning and project risk management on project success: moderating role of project managers’ competencies in the construction sector in Afghanistan". Journal of Humanities, Social and Management Sciences, 5(2), 1-20. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.47264/idea.jhsms/5.2.1

Girma, S. (2018). "Practice of project risk management: The case of challenge TB projects under management science for health". Thesis for Master's in Project Management, St Mary's University School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

GOK. (2020). 'The First National Communication of Kenya to the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change'. Nairobi: Government Printers.

Hidalgo, A. (2025). "What is Integrated Project Controls?". Retrieved from https://www.mastt.com/blogs/integrated-project-controls

Igihozo, L., & Irechukwu, E. (2022). "Project Risk Management Process and Performance of Mpazi Channel Construction Project in Nyabugogo, Kigali-Rwanda". Journal of Strategic Management, 6(2), 31–44.

Ilesanmi, O. S., & Afolab, A. A. (2022). "Sustainability of Donor-Funded Health-Related Programs Beyond the Funding Lifecycle in Africa: A Systematic Review". Cureus, 14(5). doi:10.7759/cureus.. 24643

Indeed Editorial Team. (2022). "What Is Risk Identification? Definition and Tools". Retrieved from indeed.com: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/risk-identification

Ingle, P. V., & Mahesh, G. (2022). Construction project performance areas for Indian construction projects. International Journal of Construction Management, 22(8), 1443-1454.

Juma, C. (2024). "Project risk management and sustainability of donor-funded projects in Nairobi County, Kenya". MBA thesis in project management, Kenyatta University.

Kerzner, H. (2022). "Project management best practices: Achieving global excellence". John Wiley & Sons.

Kinuthia, T. K. (2023). "Influence of risk management strategies on performance of donor-funded projects: A case of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene projects in Turkana County, Kenya". MA thesis in project planning and management, University of Nairobi.

Lock, D. (2020). "Project Management" (10th ed.). Gower Publishing.

Maarifa Centre. (2024). "South Nyanza". Council of Governors.

Makokha, P. S. (2023). "Project Management Strategies and Implementation of Donor Funded Health Care Projects in Mathare Constituency, Kenya.". University of Nairobi.

Mwata, M. T., & Mungai, A.-M. W. (2023). "Project risk management practices and performance of health projects in Mombasa County, Kenya". International Journal of Management and Business Research, 5(2), 344-356.

Odhiambo, Y. A., & Senelwa, A. (2021). 'Effect of project risk transfer strategy on project sustainability of NGO healthcare projects in South Nyanza, Kenya'. International Journal of Social Sciences and Information Technology, vii(xii), 18-28.

Ogise, A., & Gachengo, L. (2023). "Monitoring & Evaluation Systems and performance of OF Disease-Specific health projects in Homa Bay County, Kenya". The Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management, 10(4), 1388-1406. doi:10.61426/sjbcm.v10i4.2825

PMI. (2021). "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge: PMBOK Guide" (6th ed.). Newtown Square, PA: Project Management Institute, Inc.

Republic of Kenya. (2023). 'Sector Plan for Health'. Nairobi: Government of the Republic of Kenya.

Roseke, B. (2020). 'The Risk Planning Process'. Retrieved from projectengineer.net: https://www.projectengineer.net/the-risk-planning-process/

Sithambaram, J., Nasir, M. H., & Ahmad, R. (2021). "Issues and challenges impacting the successful management of agile-hybrid projects: A grounded theory approach". International Journal of Project Management, 39(5), 474-495.

Thurgood, C., & Bugajenko, O. (2023). 'Risk Identification Definition, Process & Methods'. Retrieved from study.com: https://study.com/academy/lesson/risk-identification-process-analysis.html

Tversky, A. (1967). Additivity, utility, and subjective probability. Journal of Mathematical Psychology, 4, 175-201.

Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1979). Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under Risk. Econometrics, 47(2), 263-291.

Tworek, P. (2019). Methods of risk identification in companies’ investment projects. ResearchGate.

UNDP-Global Fund and Health. (2023). 'Global fund Operational risk management'. Retrieved from ndphealthimplementation.org

Urbanski, M., Ul-Haque, A., & Oino, I. (2019). The moderating role of risk management in project planning and project success: evidence from the construction business of Pakistan and the UK. engineering management in production and services, 11(1), 23-35.

USAID. (2022). 'U.S investments in Kenya per County'. Retrieved from usaid.gov: www.usaid.gov

Willumsen, P., Oehmen, J., Stingl, V., & Geraldi, J. (2019). "Value creation through project risk management". International Journal of Project Management, 37(5), 731-749.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.