Stratford Peer Reviewed Journals and Books
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Impact of Climate Change on Pastoralists Access to Forage and Water in Kajiado South Sub County
No full textThough an important way of life for several ethnic groups living in arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya, pastoralism now faces immense challenges emanating from variability in climate. Different climate issues such as prolonged droughts have resulted to reduced precipitation which has equally led to water shortages and reduced quantities of pasture adversely impacting on pastoralism. Specifically this study investigated the influence of; pastoralists' access to forage and pastoralists' access to water in Kajiado South Sub County. The study picked upon descriptive survey research design. Research target population was; Staff at Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Department, County Assembly of Kajiado Staff and Managers working for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). The sample size was of 23 Staff at Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Department, 42 County Assembly of Kajiado Staff and 40 Managers working for CSOs that were singled out to participate in the study. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were applied to single out sampled subjects. Questionnaires were employed in the gathering of data from all the study's sampled subjects in the study area. Data was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively making use of SPSS version 20.0. Based on study findings, a substantive number of the respondents as shown by a mean of 53.9% (Mean= 4.12) agreed climate change has an impact on pastoral access to forage in the form of shortage of pasture in Kajiado South Sub County. Further, the results of the research demonstrated climate change has an impact on pastoral access to water in the form of increased demand for water and mobility distances in Kajiado South Sub County as illustrated by a mean of 50.7% (Mean=3.99). The study concluded climate had presented an adverse impact on the quantity and quality of pasture and water accessible to pastoralists. From the research findings the study recommended that there was need to develop partnerships between county governments and civil society organizations (CSOs) in addressing pasture and water shortages experienced by pastoral communities through the drilling of boreholes and construction of water pans.
Keywords: Climate Change, Pastoralists, Access, Forage, Water, Impact, Kajiado Sout
Effect of Strategic Sourcing and Supplier Selection on Supply Chain Performance of Textile and Apparel Industries in South Africa
No full textThe purpose of this study was to establish the effect of strategic sourcing and supplier selection on the supply chain performance of textile as well as apparel industries in South Africa. The research study was a desktop evaluation of existing literature. Across the globe, today organizations are running in a setting defined by plenty of financial as well as political interruptions to their resources of materials and solutions. In order to endure in this turbulent marketplace, these organizations must constantly check their affordable setting as well as their internally manageable processes, specifically the procurement procedure. Industries in South Africa are no exemption. The government of SA through various ministries every year procures numerous bucks well worth of systems, materials, as well as services in support of the federal government procedures. Because of this, innovation of procurement methods as well as processes presents government with a clear chance to leverage considerably improved value for cash from its total invest in products and also services. According to McKinsey record (2009), federal government of South Africa's acquisitions of products and also solutions represent concerning 5%- 8% of the GDP in OECD countries. Experts agree that no best means exists to review and select suppliers, as well as thus companies make use of a variety of strategies. The general objective of the vendor examination process is to reduce risk and take full advantage of the overall worth to the purchaser. There is poor efficiency regarding the effective worth for money production among textile sectors in South Africa. The purchase has stopped working to boost monetary savings, and decrease expenses while making the best use of the value of source usage in the market. The research study developed that strategic sourcing is favourably added to provide chain performance. This was because strategic sourcing caused set back decrease, it has enabled companies to work with individuals to do their job cheaply, and enabled organizations to economize on lead times, tactical has additionally made it possible for textile industries in South Africa to spend much less and also it has helped to be more reliable on service distribution. The study suggested that Strategic sourcing in the textile and apparel industries in South Africa must be enhanced to improve supply chain performance.
Key Word: Supplier Selection, Strategic Sourcing, supply chain, performance, textile and apparel industry
 
The Effect of Supplier Collaboration on Procurement Performance in the County Government of Elgeyo Marakwet
No full textOrganizations adopt procurement as a strategic approach to take care of the environmental, economic and social demands originating from the government, social and environmental bodies and the general public. However, in recent times there have been reports of firms facing market challenges resulting in low returns and closure. Their performance is dwindling and this has been attributed to competitive pressures. A substantial part of these pressures can be traced to the supply chain where variations. The purpose of the study was to find out the effect of supplier collaboration on procurement performance in the county government of Elgeyo Marakwet. A descriptive research design was employed by the study and the target employees specifically were procurement staff, main store staff, ICT staff, finance staff, quality assurance staff and suppliers from county government Elgeyo Marakwet. The total accessible population for the study was 140 employees while the sample size was 104 employees. The Census technique was used to establish the desired group to be for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data and is set in a Likert scale format. The researcher conducted the pilot study in the county government of Nandi to ascertain the validity and reliability of the research instrument before conducting the actual study. Face and content validity were then used to test the validity of the questionnaire. The researcher used the Cronbach alpha coefficient to determine the reliability of the instrument where the alpha coefficient was found to be reliable. The data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially with the aid of SPSS version 24. Regression was used to establish the causal influence of the study variables. The study found that procurement collaboration β =0.175; p< 0.05. The findings imply all the independent variables have a positive and statistically significant influence on procurement performance. It can therefore be concluded that supply chain practices were a significant influence on procurement performance in Elgeiyo Marakwet County. The study recommended that the policies which govern the county governments are utilized harmoniously. It will be beneficial to the policymakers who aim at improving and strengthening policies and regulations regarding procurement services. Furthermore, the findings benefit future researchers in line procurement and supply chain management.
Key Words: Supplier Collaboration, Procurement Performance & County Government of Elgeyo Marakwet.
 
Effect of Portfolio Diversification on the Financial Performance of Investment Firms Listed in the Nairobi Securities Exchange
No full textInvestment involves a possibility of variation or deviation in the actual return from the expected return. The return of an investment is a major determinant of whether the investors will sacrifice their present resources or not. The investors are more interested in investments or securities that promise higher returns than those that promise lower returns. Portfolio management still remains as a science that does not give clear answers on the portfolio construction. This study sought to establish the effect of portfolio diversification on the financial performance of Kenya’s quoted investment firms. The specific variables were bond investments, equity investments, mutual fund investments and real estate investments on return on investments for the investments firms at Nairobi Securities. The theoretical framework was informed by portfolio theory, Black-Litterman theory and capital asset pricing model. The study adopted descriptive research design approach. The five listed investment companies at the NSE which formed the target population of this study and a census technique was used to select the five listed investment companies in the NSE. The study used secondary data that was extracted from the NSE and the websites of the respective listed investment companies. Data was collected covering 6 years from 2014 to 2019. Descriptive statistics was presented in mean, median, standard deviation while the inferential statistics included diagnostics tests and multiple linear regression model. The results revealed a negative and insignificant relationship between bond investments and return on investments for the investments firms at Nairobi Securities Exchange. There was a positive and significant relationship between Equity investments and return on investments for the investments firms at Nairobi Securities Exchange. Mutual Funds’ investments had a negative and insignificant relationship with return on investments for the investments firms at Nairobi Securities Exchange. Real Estate investments revealed a positive and significant relationship with return on investments for the investments firms at Nairobi Securities Exchange. The study concluded that bond investment has negative influence on the financial performance of investment companies listed firms. Mutual fund investment has a negative influence on the financial performance of investment companies listed firms. In contrast, Equity and real estate have a positive influence on the financial performance of investment companies listed firms. The study recommends that listed investments firms should invest more on the real estate compared to bond and mutual funds securities since real estate had higher significant effect on financial performance. The study further recommends that investment firms should maintain investment in equity so that to increase their financial performance, but they should invest less compared to the real estate investment. The management of the investment firms listed at the NSE should strive to improve the financial performance of their firms to enhance their firms’ equity returns. Based on the weak relationship on bonds and mutual funds with financial performance which is seen by regression analysis, the study recommends that investment firms should consider investing less on bonds and mutual funds given the same market conditions.
Keywords: Bonds, Equities, Mutual Funds’, Financial Performance & Nairobi Securities Exchang
Public-Private Partnership and Infrastructure: An Empirical Study from Latin America
No full textThe purpose of this study was to assess the state and nature of Public-Private Partnership and Infrastructure in Latin America using literature based study. Multi-stakeholder collaborations between the private sector and public/non-profit institutions are commonly represented as win-win collaborations with quantifiable benefits and also results that accrue to all actors included, while the concept of additionality suggests that a partnership leads to an enhanced payment to destitution decrease and also lasting growth. In a similar capillary, the UNDP Commission for Private Sector Development has actually said that public-private partnerships (PPPs) can help with access to more comprehensive financing alternatives, aid skill and expertise development, and make possible the lasting delivery of basic services, particularly power as well as water (UNDP Commission on the Private Sector and Development 2014. UN company partnerships, specifically, are stated to cause a series of benefits. PPPs might use an opportunity for the UN to get used to the current age of globalization by reaching out to civil society and also company stakeholders that can help the company complete its goals. The study found that one of the biggest challenges facing the development of PPP projects in South America was obtaining long-term financing for private sponsors. Most commercial banks showed little appetite for credit terms greater than 10 and 15 years. The study further established that Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have been promoted worldwide as a solution for governments to meet their needs for infrastructure and public services with the participation of the private sector. The expansion of this model in different Latin American countries has resulted in a need to generate knowledge based on the experience of other countries in the region, in order to leverage lessons learned for national and local governments interested in implementing PPPs.
Key Words: Public-private, Partnership, Infrastructure, Empirical, South Americ
Technology and the Effectiveness of Donor-Funded Projects in Kajiado County, Kenya
No full textThe centrality of technology in effective management of projects started attracting attention during the onset of the 21st century. The usability of technology is evident in all businesses including profit and non-profit making enterprises. Donor-funded projects are indispensable in the development process of any economy; these projects have a wide source of funds which gives them the potential to be completed and sustained to achieve the set objectives. Donors have invested heavily in projects in Kajiado County, and in spite of the many projects in record, no visible remarkable economic growth has been seen. The main objective of the study is to find out how technology influences the effectiveness of donor funded projects in Kajiado County. A descriptive survey design was utilized in the study and a sample of 100 participants were selected through simple and stratified random sampling techniques 20 of whom were selected from each sub-county. A semi-structured questionnaire was constructed using Likert scale to collect data from the study respondents. Findings from the study revealed technology has a significant influence on the effectiveness of donor funded projects (B=0.313; p=0.00, p<0.05). Using the findings from the study, it was recommended that people responsible for implementing donor-funded projects adopt the latest technologies if they want enhance the effectiveness of projects funded by donors.
Keywords: Technology, donor-funded projects, donors, project management
Influence of Motivation of Community Health Volunteers on Implementation of Community Health Projects: A Case of Mukuru Slum Community, Nairobi County, Kenya
No full textCommunity health volunteers play an important role in delivering healthcare services, especially to underserved populations in low and middle-income countries. They have shown to be successful in providing a range of preventive, promotive and curative services. This study examined the influence of Motivation on implementation of community health project in Mukuru Slum, Nairobi County, Kenya. Nairobi County, Kenya. Kanter’s theory of empowerment was used to inform the study. Mukuru is a large informal settlement, on the edge of the industrial area in the south of the city. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population of the study was one thousand five hundred (1,500) trained CHVs in Mukuru community slum. Yamane (1967) formula was utilized to obtain a sample size of 362 respondents. Stratified random sampling technique was employed to select the sample. The study utilized both the questionnaires and interview guide, as the data collection methods. SPSS software was used to generate the descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Regression results indicated that motivation, of CHVs was positively and significantly related to implementation of community health projects. Based on the findings the study concluded that motivation of community health workers had a significant effect on implementation of community health projects in Mukuru Slum Community. The study recommends motivation through monetary compensation, career development, regular replenishment of supplies and work flexibility should be regularly revised.
Keywords: Community Health Volunteers, Motivation, Community Health & Project Implementatio
Risk Management Practices on Performance of Building Construction Projects
No full textThe objectives of risk management in a project are to increase the probability and impact of positive events and decrease the probability and impact of negative events (PMBOK Guide fourth edition). However, construction projects have been faced with a challenge of not practicing risk management which has resulted in projects delaying and taking longer than anticipated increasing the budget of the project. This challenge can be found in most countries and is more pronounced in Africa. The main aim of this paper was to investigate risk management practices and performance of building construction projects. Risk management practice was the independent variable and performance on building construction projects was the dependent variable. This study sought to investigate the relationship between the risk management practices and performance on building construction projects. The study was premised on the hypothesis that if a building construction project is practicing risk management then its performance is positive and if a building construction project is not practicing risk management its performance is negative. This study sought to undertake desktop literature review on empirical journal articles in which the authors gathered primary data about the impact of risk management and performance of construction projects. The articles gave insights about the various methodologies, theories that informed the research, ethical considerations and findings by different authors around the world and was able to compare and contrast various research components which were used. This study believed that practicing risk management in the construction industry increased the probability of positive project performance. The researchers in this study were able to look at the background to the problem, justification of the problem and individual journal analysis. Further, this study presented the convergence and divergence issues observed during individual journal analysis in addition to the summary of the gaps and the findings. The key finding of the study was that Risk Management Practices influence the Performance of Building Construction Projects. Finally, the authors presented the conclusion and recommendations. The recommendations were made to researchers and policy makers.
Keywords: Risk Management, Project Performance 
Interest Rates on Performance of Government Securities at the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, Argentina
No full textGovernment securities usually are regarded as a valuable and reliable mechanism for modern investments. This is because they provide the funding for domestic government with a low return on yield with time. The enable the state to raise finances necessary for development agenda of the government. In addition, it plays a crucial role of mobilization of resources and allocation in the economy. The relationship between changes in interest rates and performance of the securities returns is an important aspect of the economy as it has a greater bearing on the overall performance of the economy and shows the level of confidence of investors in that economy. This is even more important in the current financial setup characterized by increased international trade and the integration of the global financial markets. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of interest rates on the performance of bonds at the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange (BCBA) in Argentina. Significant extent. The study found that inflation rate had a negative correlation with stock market returns at the BCBA and we can therefore conclude that higher inflation rates tends to discourage performance of bonds listed at the BCBA leading. Exchange rates were also found to be negatively related to stock market returns at the BCBA and therefore an increase in exchange rates to a decrease in stock market returns at the BCBA. The study established that although there is a negative influence of interest rates on bond performance at the BCBA. This study recommends that there is need for central bank to regulate the interest rate levels prevailing in the country bearing in mind that they influence government securities. The investigation found that trade rates and swelling rates have a negative association with bond execution recorded at the BCBA. The factors were additionally observed to be significant determinants of bond execution. This investigation suggests that policy formulators should focus on the common rates of these chose autonomous factors as they can contrarily influence bond yield recorded at the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange.
Keywords: Interest Rates, Economic growth, Inflation Rate, Exchange Rate, Buenos Aires Stock Exchange & Argentina
English Language Skills and Students’ Academic Performance in Rwandan Public Secondary Schools: Case of Bugesera District
No full textThe aim of this research paper was to explore the effect of English language skills on students’ academic performance in Rwandan public secondary schools. Descriptive survey and correlation research designs were adopted. The procedures that were used to collect data included closed-ended questionnaires for quantitative design and data was analyzed using SPSS software, for the qualitative design, the researcher used interviews, open-ended questionnaires and classroom observation to obtain the data. The researcher used simple random sampling to select the schools in Bugesera from which the information was gathered; hence seven schools were sampled. Stratified sampling was used to categorize the sampled schools according to their zones and size. Simple random sampling was also used to select students and teachers as it gave them equal chance to participate in the study. Hence, the target population was 414 including seven (7) head teachers, seven (7) deans of studies, fifty (50) teachers and three hundred and fifty (350) students. By using the formula of Yamane the sample size was 203. After the data had been collected findings were summarized and general conclusion was drawn whereby 92.08 % agreed that English is used as the language of instruction, 6.34 % disagreed and 1.58 % refused to provide information, 6.26 percent use English in their communication, 95.26 % can write an essay in English and 93.67 % can read and understand the written materials. The overall average of students’ academic performance in national examination from 2014 to 2018 is 93.31 %. English language skills have great impact on the students’ academic performance as it was revealed by 92 percent of respondents and correlation coefficient is 0.874 which means that there is high positive correlation between English language skills and students’ academic performance. Based on the study’s results, it was discussed that although there are other intervening variables that affect academic performance of students, LOI is the most factor. It is therefore recommended that all stakeholders in education should make an effort to improve English language proficiency among students from nursery schools.
Keywords: Language skills, Medium of instruction, Academic performance & Academic achievemen