Strategic Options on Performance of Hunger Safety Net Program among Pastoralists Communities in Turkana County; Kenya

Abstract

More than 1.5 million Kenyans in regions that practice pastoralism face chronic food insecurity. As such, the hunger safety nets, which are guaranteed, predictable, timely, as well as multi-year cash transfers to the vulnerable was initiated. However, the existence of this program in Turkana County for more than 10 years has had minimal economic impacting the lives of the people. To unravel the reasons behind this minimal impact, the study was underpinned by these objectives: to determine effects of strategic planning on the performance of hunger safety net program; to establish the influence of strategic control on the performance of hunger safety net program. The study employed the theory of Change, Livelihood Portfolio Theory Based on the Welfare Pentagon, Program theory, Systems Theory and Resource Dependency Theory to elucidate its theoretical underpinnings. It used cross-sectional survey design and targeted the institutions tasked with coordination and payments. The study obtained the respondents through census from National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) and Equity Bank in Turkana County. The sample size consisted of 40 respondents, consisting of senior and middle level managers acquired through primary data collected using structured questionnaires. This study employed content and construct validity while reliability of the research instrument was tested using the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and yielded a value of 0.73. Data was analysed in two parts: descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentiles) and inferential statistics (multiple regression, factor analysis and Pearson’s correlation).The study revealed that strategic planning influences the performance of hunger safety net program while strategic control, technology adoption and strategic alliance do not. The study recommended that NDMA and Equity Bank should enhance implementation of their strategic control, strategic alliance and technology adoption in order for these options to spur performance and sustainability of hunger safety net program in Turkana County.

Keywords: Strategic Options, Performance, Hunger Safety Net Program and Pastoralism.

DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-32-03

Publication date: November 30^th 2020