Gender Literacy as a Determinant of Decision-Making in National Government Constituency Development Fund Projects in Narok County, Kenya

Abstract

Gender mainstreaming is a crucial consideration in project formulation, appraisal and implementation. However, gender disparities disadvantaging girls in education and training persist in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. Illiteracy is the main constriction to social, human and economic development; thus, women's participation in development may be stifled by their education levels. This study was carried out to establish the role of literacy on gender participation in decision-making in National Government Constituency Development Fund Projects in Narok County, Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed in which a census was carried out on 66 respondents comprising 6 Officials in charge of NG-CDF projects, 48 committee members, 8 Chairpersons of the projects and 4 government representatives. Data was collected using questionnaires where a questionnaire return rate of 93.9% was realized. The key findings of the study were: the gender distribution of participants involved in the management of NG-CDF projects did not reflect the gender distribution in the population of Narok County; there was an association between the gender and age of the respondents where there were more female than male participants among the younger respondents and more male than female participants among the older respondents; there was no association between education levels and the gender of respondents; and there was gender indifference and non-discrimination in decision making in NG-CDF projects in Narok Sub-County. The study, therefore, concluded that formal education among different genders is not necessarily the classical measure of successful participation in decision-making in projects.