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Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) are fundamental processes that provide administrators, policymakers, and stakeholders with methods for learning from experience and improving implementation through the reallocation of resources. However, the success of these interventions depends heavily on effective project monitoring and evaluation (M&E) practices. This study therefore examined the effect of project monitoring and evaluation practices on the success of the rural school feeding program in Rutsiro District, Rwanda. The specific objectives were to determine the effect of an M&E baseline survey on the success of the rural school feeding program in Rutsiro District; analyze the effect of M&E planning on program success; assess the effect of M&E data management on program success; and evaluate the effect of M&E stakeholder involvement on program success. The study adopted both the Theory of Change and Utilization-Focused Evaluation. It used descriptive and correlational research designs and adopted a census approach involving 103 respondents, including 89 teachers, 10 staff members, two representatives of school feeding committees at the school level, and two SEIs. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and document reviews. A pilot test was conducted with 10 respondents to determine the instrument's ability to produce consistent results over time. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including correlation and regression analyses. The findings revealed that all M&E components (baseline survey, planning, data management, and stakeholder involvement) had a strong and significant positive influence on program success. Respondents showed high levels of agreement, indicating that effective M&E practices improve decision-making, resource allocation, accountability, and overall program performance. The study concluded that well-implemented M&E systems are essential for enhancing the effectiveness, sustainability, and impact of rural school feeding programs. Based on these findings, the study recommends strengthening baseline surveys, improving M&E planning frameworks, enhancing data management systems, promoting active stakeholder involvement, and ensuring adequate resource allocation to support long-term program success.

The study was directed by the following specific objectives: (i) to examine the impact of the result-based approach on the performance of the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme, and (ii) to analyze the effect of the participatory approach on the performance of the scheme, and (iii) to investigate the role of the reflexive approach in enhancing the program’s outcomes. The theoretical framework drew on decision-making theory, agricultural insurance theory, and contingency theory. The target group for this study comprises roughly 1,463 people. From this group, a stratified sampling technique was been employed to select 313 respondents. Information for the research obtained via questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis, including monthly district reports. The instruments were pilot-tested, resulting in a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.94, which confirms strong reliability. Data analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistics, specifically correlation and regression at a 0.05 significance level, with the assistance of SPSS Version 28. Ethical standards was upheld by securing informed consent from participants and ensuring the confidentiality of all responses.

Hydropower projects are vital for Rwanda’s economic growth, contributing to the national GDP and accounting for 48% of the country’s installed power capacity. However, these projects face significant environmental risks, including pollution, sedimentation, fluctuating water volumes, and natural disasters such as floods and landslides, which threaten operational efficiency and long-term sustainability. This study aimed to examine the influence of environmental risk factors, specifically pollution risk, sedimentation risk, volume risk, and natural disaster risk, on the performance of hydropower projects in Rwanda, with a focus on Rwaza Hydropower Project in Musanze District. The study is grounded in Stakeholder Theory and Risk Society Theory and adopted descriptive and correlational research designs. The target population consisted of 112 participants, including project managers, plant managers, operators, regulators, and other relevant stakeholders. The study highlights the significant negative influence of pollution, sedimentation, volume fluctuations, and natural disaster risks on the performance of hydropower projects in Rwanda. It is recommended that project managers strengthen environmental management, implement effective sediment and water volume control measures, enhance disaster preparedness, and involve local communities to sustain project performance. Future research could examine the economic impacts of environmental risks, the effectiveness of mitigation strategies, climate change effects, and community participation in improving hydropower sustainability.      

This study examined the influence of implementation interventions on the success of education infrastructure projects in Rwanda, using the China-Aided Expansion Project of IPRC Musanze as a case study. The study was grounded in the recognition that project success is not solely dependent on the availability of financial resources but is largely influenced by the effectiveness of implementation strategies throughout the project lifecycle. Specifically, the study assessed the effect of materials and resource management, financial management, technology adoption, and human expertise and skills development on project success. The study was guided by Implementation Theory and the Project Success Model and adopted both descriptive and correlational research designs. The target population comprised 123 employees of IPRC Musanze at the time of project implementation, including three who were assigned to supervise the project on behalf of the beneficiary institution, as well as 1,243 students who were enrolled during the same period. This resulted in a total population of 1,366 respondents. A mixed sampling approach was employed, whereby a census technique was applied to the employee category, while simple random sampling was used for the student category. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, and document review to ensure triangulation and enhance the validity of findings. 

This study aimed to examine the influence of team management approaches, specifically team structuring, leadership, motivation, and communication, on the performance of tea processing projects in Rwanda. The study is grounded in Belbin’s Team Role Theory and the Iron Triangle Model and adopted descriptive and correlational research designs. The target population included 185 respondents, comprising factory staff, supervisors, team leaders, and officials from NAEB, MINAGRI, and the Rwanda Tea Growers Cooperative. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and interviews. A pilot test was conducted with 19 respondents to determine the instrument's ability to produce consistent results over time. Validity and Reliability testing of the research instrument yielded 0.78 and a Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.79 from pilot results, confirming the instrument's validity and reliability respectively. Data analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistics, including Pearson correlation and regression, using SPSS version 28 at a 0.05 significance level. 

Effective management of human, material, and financial resources is crucial for delivering housing construction projects successfully. In Musanze District, Rwanda, many housing projects have faced delays and cost overruns, largely due to weaknesses in planning, coordination, and resource use. Using the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Systems Theory as guiding frameworks, this study assessed how resource management strategies impact the performance of housing construction projects. A descriptive survey design with correlational analysis was used. The study targeted 152 stakeholders, including district infrastructure officers, project managers, site engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, foremen, skilled workers, and material suppliers. A stratified random sample of 110 participants was drawn, and a 10% pilot test (n = 11) was conducted to ensure the questionnaire’s clarity. Reliability analysis using Cronbach’s Alpha produced a value of 0.826, indicating strong internal consistency. Content validity was confirmed with a CVI of 0.87. Data were analyzed in SPSS 25 using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression at a 5% significance level. Findings indicated that overall project delivery performance was high (composite mean = 4.38). Key delivery indicators such as quality (mean = 4.74), scope achievement (4.56), and stakeholder satisfaction (4.35) were strong, while timely completion recorded the lowest performance (mean = 4.02). Material Resource Management (MRM) exhibited a strong, positive, and statistically significant correlation with project delivery (r = 0.510, p = 0.000), making it the most influential individual strategy.

Seed potato farming projects are essential for increasing agricultural productivity, strengthening food security, and supporting rural livelihoods in Rwanda. However, their performance is often affected by internal organizational culture challenges such as weak communication, limited accountability, unresolved conflicts, and low employee motivation. This study examined the influence of key organizational culture aspects—communication, accountability, conflict resolution, and employee motivation—on the performance of seed potato farming projects in Rwanda. The study was guided by Organizational Culture Theory and Systems Theory and employed both descriptive and correlational research designs. The target population consisted of 420 individuals, including project managers, agronomy staff, field operations personnel, administrative staff, and smallholder farmers involved in the RAB potato seed multiplication project. A sample of 230 respondents was selected using appropriate sampling techniques. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and document review. A pilot test involving 23 respondents was conducted to assess the consistency of the research instruments. The obtained results show a Cronbach’s Alpha value of 0.78, confirming reliability, and a CVI of 0.82, which exceeds the acceptable threshold for validity, meaning the research instruments were both dependable and appropriate for accurately measuring the study variables. Only items with a Content Validity Index (CVI) of at least 0.70 were retained. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis with SPSS version 28 at a significance level of 0.05.      

This study investigated the effect of project monitoring and evaluation (M&E) practices on the performance of the Capacity Development for ICT in Education (CADIE) project in Gicumbi District, Rwanda. The study specifically attempted to examine the effect of M&E planning, M&E tools, M&E digitization, and M&E budget on performance of the CADIE project in Gicumbi District, Rwanda. It was guided by the Technology Acceptance Theory, Results-Based Management (RBM) Theory, and Capacity Development Theory. A descriptive research design combining both quantitative and qualitative approaches was employed. The target population consisted of 268 stakeholders, Using Yamane’s formula, a sample of 160 respondents was drawn using stratified and simple random sampling techniques to ensure fair representation. Data was collected through questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and documentary reviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 through descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Descriptive statistics revealed that respondents generally agreed that M&E practices positively influenced project performance. The regression model showed R = 0.809 and R² = 0.655, indicating that 65.5% of the variation in project performance was explained by M&E planning, M&E tools, M&E digitalization, and M&E budgeting. The study concluded that effective monitoring and evaluation practices were vital for the successful performance of ICT-based education projects. A structured M&E plan provided clear direction, digitalization improved real-time monitoring and reporting, and proper budgeting ensured accountability and efficient resource utilization.

The study investigates the effect of project resource management—including human, financial, material, and technological resources—on the performance of housing construction projects, with a case study of the One and Only Resort’s Staff Accommodation Project in Musanze District, Rwanda. Effective resource management is essential for optimizing project outcomes, yet Rwanda’s construction sector faces challenges such as workforce skill gaps and motivation issues that hinder efficiency. Grounded in the Resource-Based View Theory, Human Capital Theory, and Theory of Change, the research employed a descriptive and correlational design, targeting 308 stakeholders, including project managers, skilled laborers, administrative staff, and consultants. A sample of 174 participants was selected through stratified sampling, with data collected via questionnaires, interviews, and documentation. The instruments demonstrated strong validity (0.892) and reliability (0.803). Using SPSS version 28 for correlation and regression analysis at a 0.05 significance level, the study rejected all four null hypotheses (p = 0.000), confirming that human, financial, material, and technology resource management significantly enhance project performance. The findings underscore the importance of strategic resource allocation in improving construction efficiency and project success. The study recommends that project managers continuously refine resource management strategies to optimize outcomes and suggests future research on the role of risk management in housing construction projects. This research provides valuable insights into resource optimization in Rwanda’s construction sector, offering practical guidance for enhancing housing project performance through effective resource management. 

The study aimed at evaluating financial record keeping on financial performance of SMEs in Kinigi Sector. The study was guided by three specific objectives. A descriptive design with a population of 447 and sample size of 211 SMEs was adopted. The study has a pilot study which have been carried and shown a reliable type of instrument which was used to collect information relating to the research objectives. The results of objective one has a low mean showing that there is little or simply insufficiency in ensuring that transactions of the business are not updated accordingly to reflect the activities done in the business. Results of objective two and three as well show a low level suggesting a very low attempt in ensuring record keeping updates and accuracy and it has been seen that it affects the SMEs financial performance. The study studied the relationship by Pearson correlation which have shown a perfect relationship on self-sub variables in the study but also showing a medium significance between financial record updates, record storage, record accuracy and financial performance. The study concluded reminding positive relationship between the study independent variable parameters of financial record keeping together with the dependent variable for selected small scale and medium enterprises in Kinigi Sector; this have shown that a change in the practices of record keeping affect the financial performance of small scale and medium enterprises in Kinigi Sector. The study has made recommendations in relation to the objectives where small and medium enterprises have been recommended to carry out the financial record keeping to ensure that there is proper performance and as well the government policy makers to enhance the courage of record keeping to encourage financial performance in Kinigi Sector.

Effective communication is critical for project success, but challenges such as unclear goals, inadequate audience identification, poorly designed communication channels, and insufficient documentation have hindered project outcomes. Drawing from global and regional perspectives, this study emphasizes the role of communication in enhancing transparency, stakeholder alignment, and project sustainability. This study examines the influence of communication strategies of goals, audience identification, channels and documentation on performance of water supply projects in Musanze District, Rwanda. This study uses the theories of Communication and Diffusion of Innovations Theory. The study employs a descriptive survey and correlational research design with a target population of 416 respondents, resulting in a sample size of 204 respondents. Data was collected through questionnaires, interviews, and documentation review. A pilot study was conducted with 20 respondents and the instruments' validity was confirmed with a Content Validity Index (CVI) of 0.76, while reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.79. Findings for four hypotheses reveal that; Communication Goals (P=0.000 < 0.05); Audience Identification (P=0.000 < 0.05); communication channels (P=0.000 < 0.05) and; Communication Documentation (P=0.000 < 0.05) does not significantly influence project performance were rejected, this confirm that Communication Documentation has a significant positive influence on project performance. Means that communication goals, audience identification, communication channels, and documentation all significantly contribute to the success of water supply projects. The study identifies key areas for improvement, including clearer communication goals, more inclusive stakeholder engagement, better accessibility of communication channels, and more systematic documentation practices. Based on these findings, recommendations are made for better budget planning, stakeholder engagement, and enhanced communication practices to improve the sustainability and success of future water supply projects in Musanze District and similar contexts. Further research should explore sustainable maintenance models, the impact of capacity-building programs, and the role of communication in budget management to improve stakeholder collaboration and long-term project viability.

S Stakeholder engagement has been indicated as great driver for successful electrification projects in many countries, including settings similar to Rwanda. However, little is known about its influence on electrification projects in Rwanda. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how different strategies of stakeholder engagement influence performance of electrification project Musanze District, Rwanda, with a focus on RUEAP. Specific focus was on collaboration strategy, involvement strategy, empowerment strategy and consultation strategy. Stakeholder theory and Goal Setting Theory informed the study. The study used descriptive survey and correlational research designs. A structured questionnaire and interview guide were used to collect quantitative data from 452 participants who were selected using Stratified, random and purposive sampling from a target population of 4691. The questionnaire was piloted with 47 participants, representing 10% of the sample size. The Validity of instrument was done and the coefficient of 0.8 was obtained. Reliability was established using Cronbach’s alpha test, and a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.899 was found. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics of Correlation and Regression were done at a significance level of 0.05 using SPSS version 28 while thematic content analysis of qualitative data was done on qualitative data.  The findings for four hypotheses were tested at ?=.05 level of significance and the results were: stakeholder collaboration (P=0.011<0.05); stakeholder involvement (P=0.015<0.05); stakeholder empowerment (P=0.000<0.05) and; stakeholder consultation (P=0.007<0.05) does not significantly influence performance of electrification projects were rejected, confirming that they all had a significant influence on project performance. The study concludes that Stakeholders’ engagement in electrification project in Musanze have significantly influenced the electrification project performance. It is recommended that RUEAP project should continue to prioritize stakeholder engagement during the implementation of the project, but greater emphasis must be considered to begin engagement during the planning stage to ensure that the project aligns with public needs and expectation. Future research should involve a nationally representative sample of stakeholders would paint a picture of how engagement influence performance that is generalizable to other settings across Rwanda. 

This research explores the nexus of oral communication, masculinity, and gender-based violence (GBV) in Congolese households the City of Bukavu. It was conducted between October and December 2023. It used a qualitative approach with 30 in-depth interviews with Congolese married men the researchers chose randomly, and whose ages ranged between 35 and 67. The research applied thematic analysis to identify major themes. Results indicate that Congolese men in Bukavu appreciate when family members value their masculinity. Monopolizing the speech gives them the feeling they are listened to, which mirrors power and respect. Interrupting a man’s oral communication conveys disdain of his masculine power, which can push him to resort to GBV. This attitude originates from gender roles and beliefs that patriarchy has preset for men, obliging women to remain silent and submissive. Gender differences in spoken communication led to either competition or connection, and affiliation or action. The study applied the theories of family violence and masculinity. Family violence entails how communication styles can influence each partner’s behaviours. The man’s abusive communication in the household can manipulate his wife's feelings to prompt emotional abuse. Masculinity encompasses hegemonic masculinity that dominates all other masculinities. Masculinity sets a boundary of what it means to be a man by giving him power and control over women and other men. This elucidates how men have full speech while women are passive. Once gender dissimilarities and masculinity couple with voiced negative communication, they fuel male GBV in Congolese households. To overcome this issue, constructive masculinity can promote healthy communication by encouraging men to value women and communicate freely by respecting freedom of expression in large or reduced locales.

The research assesses the challenges deterring the progress of women’s small-scale businesses in Rwanda. It was guided by the following specific objectives: identify challenges faced by women’s small-scale businesses in Rwanda and assess how those challenges affect women’s small-scale businesses' progress. Findings were collected from 109 respondents who have been running small-scale businesses over a period ranging from one to three years. Results were collected through a questionnaire and desk review and quantitatively analyzed. The findings shed light on the challenges which small-scale women entrepreneurs face namely family expenses (53.2%), drunkenness (67%), family conflicts (93.6%), financial illiteracy (100%), and poverty (100%). The above-mentioned challenges affect small-scale businesses in that women entrepreneurs find themselves mixing up businesses and family expenses. Family conflicts were also highlighted to be another cause of business failure in that women who conflict with their husbands cannot easily prosper in their businesses. In addition, financial illiteracy makes them unable to assess their profit and find their businesses stagnant or closing. Thus, there is a need to provide support to small-scale businesswomen about how to assess business progress, and calculate their interest rate so that they may come up with financial skills. This would enable them to align their daily family expenses with their business interest. Once properly implemented, it would decrease the business failure rate.

The chance of survival of businesses in Rwanda is underprivileged and 82% of them close at an early stage, which negatively affects manufacturing companies, particularly Family-Owned Manufacturing Companies (FOMCs). Although there are other reasons why many FOMCs do not succeed in the next generation, a lack of pro-activeness has surfaced as a critical factor. Thus, the study aimed to assess the effect of pro-activeness on the survival of family-owned manufacturing companies in Kigali City, Rwanda. The study was conducted in Kigali City, from 2017 to 2023; Cochran’s formula was employed to determine a sample size of 384 senior employees picked at random from 77 FOMCs. This study employed Self-administered questionnaires and a quantitative approach. Multiple linear regression analysis was utilized to find out the relationship among variables. IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) SPSS (Software Package for Social Sciences) was employed to analyze data. The findings of this study indicated that pro-activeness had a substantial influence on the survival of family-owned manufacturing companies. The study offers a cogent explanation of the relationship between the longevity of family-owned manufacturing companies and pro-activeness. The study also offers important insights into the smooth and effective execution of pro-activeness for the survival and continuity of family-owned manufacturing enterprises. Moreover, the study findings indicated that combining pro-activeness and training the successors boost the productivity of family-owned companies and make them more competitive in the market, which leads to the long-term survival of FOMFs. The FOMFs that use pro-activeness in their operations survive longer than the ones without it.  

The study investigates the relationship between masculinities, narcissism, and gender-based violence (GBV) among Congolese male refugees in Durban, South Africa. The research uses a qualitative approach and 25 in-depth interviews to identify major themes. Results show that Congolese male refugees reinforce their masculinities through narcissistic behaviors, which contribute to GBV. Societal stakeholders in Durban should be involved in addressing GBV prevention initiatives to hinder men's narcissistic attitudes and beliefs. Recognizing a partner's depth can help reduce GBV by recognizing the positive attention they expect from them.

In an attempt to understand the complexity of teen parents and associated consequences, the present study was conducted. It examines the connection between teen parents and family well-being in five selected Districts of Rwanda. Data were collected from 226 respondents randomly selected. Respondents included 176 teen mothers, 30 parents of teen mothers and 20 local leaders. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. Quantitative data were presented in percentages while content analysis was used for qualitative data. The results revealed that teen mothers are exposed to various social and economic problems. Rejected and depressed, 61.4% of pregnant teens thought about abortion and were restricted by lack of financial means while 9% thought about suicide which affects the physical and mental health of both teens and their children. Furthermore, 80.4% of teen mothers were not given the opportunity to resume their studies after delivering which amplifies their poverty exposure and their children as well. Parents/guardians need to be supportive through good communication so as to know what their children are going through and advise them accordingly. Moreover, they should bear with them in case a pregnancy occurs so that they may not feel depressed and think of abortion or suicide. They should not chase them from home since it increases their exposure to repeated pregnancies. There is a need of sensitizing the community about strategies that can reduce teen mothers’ rates as well as appropriate action in case teens get impregnated.

Teenagers’ pregnancies constitute a major challenge which has raised the attention of writers and educational stakeholders. The phenomenon is being amplified by different push factors which make teens impregnated. The purpose of the study was to assess factors which contribute to teen pregnancies and identify mechanisms which can be used to address it.  Respondents were sampled from five Districts by considering 40 in each and 200 respondents were randomly selected. Poverty, carelessness, rape, lack of information about reproductive health, attempt to love, peer influence and lack of parental attachment in all its angles were highlighted to be the main causes of early pregnancies. There is a need of raising parents’ awareness of the importance of having quality time with their children, being closer to them in order to be able to make regular follow up on challenges they face related to their physiological changes especially at teenage age. This would help them understand what is happening in their bodies and guide them towards appropriate behavior. This would reduce the number of teens who are manipulated by adults based of teens’ ignorance.

E-commerce is gaining popularity due to its importance for both merchants and consumers, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricts mass movement and gathering, as well as the high costs associated with traveling to different markets. Despite mounting evidence demonstrating the importance of internet in retails business, little is known about the potential mechanisms that increase consumer purchasing intentions when using online shopping platforms. In today's high customer sensitivity to service quality, successful entrepreneurs have recently thrived under competitive pressures. Online transactions are more difficult because buyers and sellers do not know each other, yet they must provide financial information to intermediaries. Thus, it is now clear that increasing customer trust is a viable strategy for driving e-business success today. Considering this, a new model demonstrating a potential mechanism that increases customers' trust in intermediaries and thus leads to their online purchasing intentions was developed. This innovative model connects website quality to the online purchasing intentions of the customers, using trust in intermediaries as a mediator and moderating the effect of perceived usefulness. To prove or disprove the assumptions highlighted in this study, a cross-sectional research design was used with data from 568 clients of nine domestic e-commerce platforms operating in Rwanda. To investigate the relationship between the variables hypothesized in this study, a variety of methods and tools were used. To assess the potential effect of each variable in this model, we used CFA in SEM-Amos, mean and standard deviation in SPSS, and Hayes macro process. The overall results obtained using the various techniques specified supported the current hypothesized model. We believe that the current study provided an innovative and useful mechanism as one of the potential solutions for today's merging online businesses.

To stay competitive and viable in today's rapidly evolving and highly hostile market climate, companies need to concentrate more on innovation. In this regard, the specific quality of transformational leadership has been strongly linked to organizational innovativeness. However, the purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between transformational leadership and the innovation behavior of employees. The literature review developed in the current study is fundamentally centered on how transformational leaders value innovation by facilitating organizational learning to foster innovative behavior among employees. Corporate social responsibilities as an organizational level factor that can drive employee attitudes were also examined as a moderating effect in this relationship. The rationale of the relationship of the variables is supported by both transformational leadership theory (TFL) and social exchange theory (SET). Data were collected from corporate social responsibility engaged SMEs operating in Rwanda. Using Cranach’s alpha reliability and validity were tested while structural equation modeling (SEM) was used in analyzing data. The findings of this study intend to fill some gaps in the current literature such as the introduction of CSR in the relationship between top managerial level leadership, organizational learning, and innovation behavior of employees, also introducing SET to explain such important relationship