An Empirical Study on the Role of Project Portfolio Governance in Strengthening Rural Health Systems

In areas of where there are low resources, rural health systems often encounter challenges in delivering accessible and quality healthcare. Project Portfolio Governance (PPG), which stands as the structured oversight of healthcare projects within a portfolio has now become a very strategic tool that can help project execution with institutional goals, optimize the use of resources while also ensuring accountability. This study goes forward to examine the effectiveness of Project portfolio governance mechanisms in contributing to the strength of rural health systems in Nigeria. Making use of a mixed-method approach, 20 healthcare project managers, administrators and clinicians involved in rural health initiatives were surveyed in two states, Osun and Ogun state precisely. From the survey, it was discovered that clear governance structures, stakeholder engagement, and performance monitoring interrelates positively with improved service delivery, project sustainability and system resilience. The study also shows the critical role of project governance, not only in streamlining operations but also helping to foster community trust and institutional grow in rural healthcare.