| dc.description.abstract | Globally, billions of shillings have been spent in communities to enhance the living situation of the people. However, one
of the most critical obstacles is the extent to which the projects are able to persist despite the exit of donors, while the
beneficiaries reap dividends; appreciate their participation and ownership role in the project. Apparently, it is
sustainability that makes the difference between success and failure of community-based projects. Various factors such
as technical, financial, institutional, economic, and social factors contribute to the failure to sustain the projects if not
considered well in the project management cycle. In this paper, we provide a conceptual explanation of factors that
influence sustainability of projects in Kenya, especially in the very needy communities where such projects are the only
window of hope. We rely on analysis of secondary evidence from Kenya and other parts of the world. Our main
argument is that a lot of money is being spent in community-based projects yet majority of such projects have generally
failed to bring sustainable benefits to the target groups. The paper particularly observes that although many projects
highlight elements of sustainability in their proposal stage, the actual implementation seems to lack emphasis on
sustainability. The authors concentrate on socio-cultural, political, economic and technical factors and how they affect
sustainability of community-based projects. This paper concludes that lack of stakeholder ownership and commitment
leads to project failure. Additionally, aid support from development agencies often do not fully understand and consider
socio-economic, cultural, and political factors influencing the project design, planning and implementation. As well, very
limited follow-up support during implementation is tendered by these development agencies. Therefore, there is need for
inclusive and viable community driven approaches to project sustainability which can be achieved through participation
and involvement of all stakeholders. | en_US |
