Challenges Facing Non-Government Organizations In Mukuru Kwa Reuben Slum, Nairobi City County.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Non-government organization plays a major role in providing social services to slums dwellers in so doing they face many challenges. This study gives an overview of challenges facing Non-Government Organization (NGOs) operating in slums; case of Mukuru kwa Reuben slum in Nairobi County. This study is purposed to address three research questions as: What are the effects brought by Non-Government Organizations in Mukuru kwa Reuben slum, what are the challenges faced by Non-Government Organizations in Mukuru kwa Reuben slum and What are the measures to be taken to curb these challenges. This study research design has a target population comprising of 150 NGO managers, NGOs staffs and CHWs. A sample size of 60 respondents will be deemed as adequate size relative to the goals of the study. The sample size comprised of 8 NGO managers, 40 NGOs staffs and 12 CHWs. The study employed secondary data from literature review for theoretical framework development and primary data was collected using questionnaires by use of drop and pick later technique. To describe the study variables, various descriptive statistics including frequencies, percentages and mean was provided, as the results and findings were presented in tables. From the study findings on effects brought by NGOs in Mukuru kwa Reuben slum the respondents agreed with majority of the statements which include: NGOs support innovation and demonstration of pilot projects, NGOs offer technical support to the locals, NGOs support research, monitoring, and evaluation of available projects, NGOs advocate for the locals, Compliment government efforts in provision of health services, NGOs helps reducing crime rate and NGOs helps in reducing effects of HIV and AIDS in Mukuru kwa Reuben slum. From the study findings, the respondents agree that NGOs mostly face the challenge of raising funds for their sustainability in Mukuru kwa Reuben slum especially from external sources for instance, Donor countries priorities affect the implementation of project. However, respondents disagreed that NGOs can depend on government support to sustain their operations because NGOs are not government entities. Respondents also agreed that NGOs face some internal challenges in their organizations which include: Accountability and transparency, inadequate strategic and operational plans, inadequate networking skills, inadequate awareness on available opportunities. On the measures to curb NGOs challenges majority of the respondents agreed with the following statements: utilizing their networks with other regional NGOs, NGO board and NGOs council should improve their efficiency to help NGOs operating in slums, to utilize opportunities brought by introduction of county government, to utilize youthful graduate as their volunteers in their organizations, to use their assets to generate income to facilitate their operations in Mukuru kwa Reuben slum, to partner with the private sector through Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative to reduce dependency on one source of income which is donation. Enactment of favorable policies on NGOs operating in slums environment, improving participation of the locals in the formulation and implementation of projects in slums by NGOs and applying innovative ways of mobilization of funds by NGOs was recommended in this study.