INFLUENCE OF HUMANITARIAN TECHNOLOGY ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HUMANITARIAN AID PROJECTS IN NGOS BASED IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Humanitarian crisis across the globe continue to increase in size, frequency and complexity challenging the ability of NGOs in disaster relief to save lives of persons in distress. This has been a challenge to countries prone to natural disaster and human conflict such as Syria, Southern Sudan, Central Africa Republic, Yemen, Somalia and Democratic Republic of Congo.  In Kenya, humanitarian crises have occurred in the form of recurrent drought, floods, malnutrition and food security, disease outbreak, post election violence, resource based inter-communal conflicts as well as terror attacks. In 21^st Century, disasters have become frequent, complex and growing in size, overstretching humanitarian sector ability to respond effectively. As a result, there is increasing need to apply humanitarian technology when implementing humanitarian aid projects and NGOs in disaster relief have been laggards in adopting humanitarian technology. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of humanitarian technology and the implementation of humanitarian aid projects.  The paradigm guiding the study is pragmatism and the study employed a cross sectional-survey design. The sample was drawn from NGOs in disaster relief programmes using both probability and non-probability sampling technique. Both primary and secondary data was utilized in data collection. Primary data was collected using self administered questionnaires, Key Informant Interview and Focus Group Discussions Guides. Questionnaires issued were 117 out of these, 85 which is 72.6% were returned for analysis. The data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. For descriptive analysis, mean, percentages and frequencies were used. For inferential analysis, correlations and regressions were used. For p<0.05, H₀ was rejected and H₁ accepted. For the strength of the relationships, r values were considered where: +0.10< r <+0.29; weak correlation +0.30< r <+0.49; moderate correlation +0.5 < r <+1.0; Strong correlation. The qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis.  The study findings indicate that humanitarian technology influence implementation of humanitarian aid projects. In conclusion, humanitarian technology is critical in implementation of humanitarian aid projects and there is need to put more emphasis on use of existing humanitarian technology.  The study recommended that there is need for NGOs in disaster relief to adopt more technologies another recommendation was that there is need to increase trainings in Humanitarian technology in academic institutions.

Key Words: Humanitarian technology, Implementation of Humanitarian aid projects, NGOs in disaster relief, Private sector engagement