The Influence of Strategic Infrastructure of Cash Transfer Programs on Performance of Selected NGOs in Isiolo County, Kenya

The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of strategic infrastructure of cash transfer programs on performance of selected NGOs in Isiolo County, Kenya. A cross-sectional research design was adopted in the study to collect quantitative and qualitative data from diverse respondents at one point in time. The target population was 8 international registered NGOs in Isiolo County currently offering cash transfer programs. The respondents included 8 operations managers, 25 finance officers, and 93 project coordinators, whose roles involved operations related to cash transfer programs. The sample was selected using purposive and simple random sampling, and the data was analyzed using SPSS for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative interviews. The correlation coefficient value of strategic infrastructure is r=0.486 at α < 0.001 at 99% significance level. An R value of .486 at a significance value of 0.001 is an indication that there was a statistically significant influence of strategic infrastructure on organizational performance. The regression results indicated that strategic infrastructure is 0.253 and a significance value of 0.003. The results are an indication that organizational performance was increased or decreased by a unit of .253 of the strategic infrastructure. The NGOs had made impressive investments towards the support of their ICT infrastructure to protect beneficiaries’ data and safeguard online financial transactions to support conditional and non-conditional cash transfer programs. Nevertheless, physical infrastructure was found out to be lacking, compromising the safety hard cash that may be present for purposes of facilitating physical cash transfer to the beneficiaries. The directors of NGOs are recommended to reevaluate and improve on their capital investments to consider safety enhancements within the NGO premises. This could include acquiring safety boxes and reinforcing the cash storage rooms with steel doors. The management are also recommended to provide training to their staff on safety protocols especially when handing physical money.