Effect of Communication on Performance of World Bank Funded Informal Settlements Improvement Projects in Nakuru West Sub-County

Abstract

Despite the substantial investment and resources allocated to the World Bank-funded informal settlements projects, there is an observable variation in their outcomes, with some projects failing to achieve their intended goals of improving living conditions and infrastructure therefore the study sought to assess the effect of communication on performance of world bank funded informal settlements improvement projects in Nakuru West Sub-County.  A descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The total target population was 155 project representatives. Since the study population was manageable, a census was adopted to incorporate all the targeted respondents. The study collected primary data. A questionnaire was utilized to gather the primary data necessary for the study. A pilot test was conducted in Eldoret City for the World Bank funded KISIP projects. The content validity of this study was enhanced by seeking the views of experts in the field of study, especially the research supervisor. Reliability in this study was improved by pre-testing the questionnaire with a selected sample that was not included in the main study. An internal consistency technique was adopted through the utilization of Cronbach’s Alpha. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Descriptive statistics involved the use of measures of central tendencies (mean) and measures of dispersion (standard deviation). Inferential statistics involved the use of Pearson correlation analysis to establish the nature of the affiliation amongst variables. After analysis, data was presented in the form of tables. From the findings, the study established that there exists a strong positive and significant relationship between communication (r=0.897, p=0.018) on the performance of World Bank Funded Informal Settlements Improvement Projects in Nakuru West Sub-County.  The study concluded that effective communication was a fundamental factor in influencing project performance by ensuring inclusivity among stakeholders and improving project efficiency. It also concluded that the use of diverse communication platforms, a clear communication plan, and frequent updates fostered stakeholder engagement, role clarity, and accountability. From the findings and conclusions, the study recommended that the communication team of the World Bank Funded Informal Settlements Improvement Projects in Nakuru West Sub-County should diversify and enhance communication platforms to ensure inclusivity and stakeholder engagement.