Effect of Stakeholders’ Management on Programme Performance: A Case of Crop Intensification Programme in Ngoma District, Rwanda (2018-2023)

The study sought to assess effect of stakeholders’ management on programme performance. The unit of analysis was the crop intensification programme in Ngoma district, Rwanda from 2018 to 2023. The study guided by Stakeholder theory, Goal setting theory and Theory of Change. The study adopted a descriptive survey and correlational research design. The population size was 2123 comprising of smallholder farmers (688), farmers in cooperatives (850), agro-dealers (450), agricultural extension service providers (120), agronomists (14) and Director of Agriculture and Natural Resource in Ngoma district (1). The total sample size was 336 respondents. The sampling procedure was purposive and stratified random sampling. A five-point Likert type scale questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data. The statistical analysis used for quantitative data were frequencies, percentages, arithmetic means and standard deviations, while the statistical tools employed for inferential statistics were Pearson’s Correlation, ANOVA, coefficients test and Multiple Linear Repression. Fisher (F) and P-values were used to test the null hypotheses. The study findings revealed the R value of 0.846 indicating a strong positive relationship between the predictors and the outcome variables, and the R Square value of 0.768 indicates that approximately 76.8% of the variability in the outcome variable can be explained by the predictors in the model. The coefficients of the predictors indicate their individual effects on the CIP performance. Specifically, stakeholders’ identification (β1=0.716, p=0.002), stakeholders’ negotiation (β2= 0.539, p= 0.011), stakeholders’ participation (β3= 0.627, p= 0.006) and stakeholders’ M&E (β4= 0.685, p= 0.014). This indicates that all the coefficients of the predictors are statistically significant, as indicated by their associated Sig. values below 0.05. In short, the four null hypotheses were tested and rejected to accept the alternative hypotheses. The study concluded that all the independent (predictors) variables of the model specification had the greatest effect on the CIP performance in Ngoma district, Rwanda. The study recommends in the form of policy-making and practices that stakeholders’ negotiation and stakeholders’ M&E should be outlined in a pure and concise blueprint to promote stakeholders’ inclusivity in all stages of CIP activities that aims at ensuring food security countrywide and food supply globally.