Effectiveness of participatory monitoring and evaluation in environment management interventions in Palabek Refugee Settlement, Lamwo

Abstract

This study evaluated the effectiveness of participatory monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) in environmental management interventions in Palabek Refugee Settlement, Lamwo District, Uganda. The researcher was motivated by the persistent environmental challenges in the settlement, including deforestation, soil degradation, poor waste management, and pollution, despite ongoing interventions by governmental and non-governmental organizations. The study adopted the participatory development theory, which emphasizes community involvement, empowerment, and sustainable development. This theory guided the exploration of how participatory approaches in planning, monitoring, and evaluation could enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of environmental management interventions. Key findings revealed that soil degradation (46.2%) and deforestation (23.1%) were the most pressing environmental challenges. Participatory planning and design significantly improved project implementation, with logistic regression showing that community involvement increased participation odds by 4.23 times (p = 0.008). Similarly, participatory monitoring and evaluation demonstrated positive effects, with frequent community engagement ("Often" or "Always") correlating with higher project success rates (OR = 3.90, p = 0.019). The study also highlighted the critical role of organizations like UNHCR (42.3%) and the Danish Refugee Council (15.4%) in environmental conservation efforts. The study concluded that PM&E enhances the effectiveness and sustainability of environmental management interventions by fostering community ownership, accountability, and responsiveness. Recommendations included strengthening participatory mechanisms, ensuring regular community engagement, and integrating feedback into project cycles. Future research could explore long-term impacts of PM&E and its socio-economic synergies in refugee settings. Keywords: Participatory monitoring and evaluation, environmental management, refugee settlement, community participation, sustainability, Palabek.