Factors Affecting the Effectiveness of Government Funded Research Grant: The Case of Haramaya University

This research entitled to study the factors affecting the effectiveness of government funded research grant at Haramaya University (HU) with the aim of how research grants are effective. The research applied a descriptive research design with both quantitative and qualitative approaches implemented. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources through a questionnaire and key-informant interviews using a structured questionnaire. In addition, a stratified sampling was applied to six research thematic areas of the university from 2015-2019 academic year that were granted research fund apart from externally funded projects. Samples of 195 researchers (grantees) are selected by employing simple random sampling techniques. To analyze how the research is effective, it is predicted through independent variables suing the linear regression model. Then proofed that, research teamwork, monitoring and evaluation, research outcome and publication were seen low response at 5% significance with overall mean ranges of 2.56 - 2.59 laid in disagreed mode. Similarly, the level of education (Academic Rank), work experience, age and amount of fund given per each research grant affected the research effectiveness. Moreover; the statistics showed that professors research timeliness were 100% including publication that carried 71.4 % and showed effective among the other academic rank. Therefore, implementing periodic monitoring and evaluation of research progress are recommended. Likewise, favorable infrastructure to senior staff are important, awarding enough funds, and hiring or/and promoting staff through education and publication are recommended to positively impact the research fund effectiveness. Finally, it has to emphasize that the impact of grants should further focus on increased productivity inline to the scientific impact.