Influence of Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation on Sustainability of Water Projects in Rorya District Council

This study investigates the role of participatory monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) in promoting the sustainability of rural water supply projects in Rorya District, Tanzania. It focuses on four critical dimensions of participation: goal understanding, activity identification, progress measurement, and results reporting. Data were collected using structured questionnaire from random sample of 349 participants. Multiple regression analysis was specifically employed to examine the nature and strength of the relationship between participatory monitoring and evaluation components and the sustainability of rural water projects. The findings demonstrate that all four PM&E components—goal understanding, activity identification, progress measurement, and results reporting—positively and significantly contribute to project sustainability. Progress measurement had the strongest impact, reinforcing the role of accountability and informed decision-making. To enhance rural water project sustainability, project implementers should raise community awareness of project goals through sensitization campaigns; local leaders should facilitate inclusive planning; project managers must adopt simple monitoring tools and involve communities in tracking progress; and donors should ensure transparent, accessible reporting to build trust and accountability.