An Assessment of Strategies to Sustain Beneficiaries’ Livelihoods by Adventist Centre at Kibagare Slum, Nairobi, County, Kenya

Abstract

In view of well documented non-governmental interventions towards towards the improvement of livelihoods of urban slum populations, impacts of projects are hardly felt after the their exit. It was against this background, that the focused on establishing strategies adopted by Adventist Centre for enhancing livelihood strategies adopted by Adventist Centre in enhancing livelihood sustainability among beneficiaries in Kibagare; to examine factors that affect sustainability of livelihood strategies,and to assess effectiveness of strategies. The ́sustainable livelihoods framework for International Development (DFID) served as an analytical guide for the study. To arrive at numbers of beneficiaries interviewed in each village, a formular by Miller and Brewer (2003) was used. The study drew a random sample of 115 beneficiaries through probability and non probability sampling technique. Snowball method was used to select beneficiaries whereas purposive method was used to select the key informants. The primary data were collected using questionnaires from key informants and an interview guide from beneficiaries. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Of the 115 selected beneficiaries, data was successfully collected from 108 beneficiaries after the verification process nullified 3 (three) responses after it was found out that they were no longer beneficiaries to programs. Deductions were therefore based on 105 respondents. Validity of the research instruments were ensured through review of set questions by supervisors while Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient (α) statistical procedure used to assess reliability. All the variables tested had alpha value of above the recommended 0.7 (i.e. 0.835, 0.803 and 0.798) and were therefore accepted as reliable. The study findings showed that strategies adopted by AC namely education, economic empowerment, general health services, microcredit, HIV/AIDS management. clothing and food supply, and OVC interventions were emphasized and preferred in that order. Key factors affecting sustainability of livelihoods included donor funding, financial shortages, government regime, and level of involvement of the community members. The study also found that the most effective AC’s strategies for sustainable livelihoods were education, economic empowerment, OVC interventions and HIV/AIDS prevention and management in that order. It was, therefore, strongly recommended that NGOs seeking to optimize livelihood sustainability should prioritize these strategies. The study found out that the strategies enhanced livelihood sustainability for as long as there was donor funding. To ward off interference by the donor community, the study recommends that the NGOs source for their own funds so as to have freehand in ensuring livelihood sustainability of their beneficiaries.