Value for Money Audit for Semi-Arid Rural Development Program financed by SNV the Netherlands Development Agency
The SARDEP programme which was jointly supported by the Netherlands Government and the Government of Kenya (GOK), commenced on a preliminary basis on 1st July 1999. The programme took over from the former ASAL programmes in the three districts of Kajiado, Keiyo & Marakwet and Laikipia. Due to the change in policies, the Netherlands Government was phasing out its support and hence needed a value for money audit undertaken to appraise the success or otherwise of the project.
The objective of the VFMA was to assess whether the program funds were used most economically by minimizing the cost of resources through doing things at the lowest cost, efficiently by performing tasks with reasonable effort through doing things the right way, and effectively through doing the right things towards achieving the program’s objectives, whose central thrust was to achieve sustainable reduction of poverty while conserving the natural resource base and enhancing overall gender equality.
Our consultants found that the overall, SARDEP’s objectives, sectoral focus and approach of intervention were valid with respect to the needs of the communities in all the three districts. The objectivity, efficiency and effectiveness of the programme were ranked high by the people. Although persistent drought during the programme period had slowed down the realization of the foreseen project impact, SARDEP interventions and approaches had the real potential to impact positively on the welfare of the people.