Capacity Building and Performance of Agricultural Program in Rural Kenya

Climate-smart agricultural programs require effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems supported by adequate human capacity to achieve sustainable development outcomes. This study examined the role of capacity building in the relationship between M&E tools and the performance of Climate-Smart Agricultural Programs in Rural Kenya. A mixed-methods approach employing descriptive, cross-sectional, and correlational research designs was adopted. Data were collected from 246 respondents drawn from project beneficiaries and staff through structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that respondents perceived capacity building, measured through level of training, technical skills, and technical competence, as highly implemented (overall mean = 4.24, SD = 0.61). Capacity building exhibited significant positive correlations with program performance, with level of training (r = 0.786, p < 0.001), technical skills (r = 0.753, p < 0.001), and technical competence (r = 0.631, p < 0.001) showing strong associations. Hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated that incorporating capacity building substantially increased the explanatory power of the model from 61.1% to 70.5% of the variance in program performance. The study concludes that strengthening technical capacity through continuous training and competency development enhances the effectiveness of M&E systems and significantly improves the performance of climate-smart agricultural programs. The study recommends institutionalising capacity-building strategies alongside investments in M&E systems to improve implementation efficiency, accountability, and sustainability of agricultural development interventions.