INFLUENCE OF PROJECT SCOPE CLARITY ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DONOR-FUNDED HEALTH CARE PROJECTS IN MINGANA VILLAGE, CONGO
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Abstract
This study examined the influence of project scope clarity on the implementation of donor-funded health-care projects in Mingana Village, Congo. The research was guided by the premise that unclear project objectives and poorly defined deliverables often result in delays, cost overruns, and unsustainable outcomes in donor-funded initiatives. Using a quantitative research design, data were collected from 93 respondents comprising project managers, coordinators, and community health stakeholders through structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis were employed to determine the relationship between project scope clarity and project implementation. The findings revealed a strong and statistically significant positive relationship (R = .865, R² = .748, p < .001), demonstrating that scope clarity accounted for 74.8% of the variance in project implementation. The study concluded that clear scope definition, stakeholder alignment, and effective change-control mechanisms are critical for successful project delivery. It recommends that donor agencies and implementing partners should prioritize comprehensive scope planning, strengthen change-control systems, and enhance stakeholder engagement to improve health project outcomes. Future research is suggested to examine the moderating role of political and institutional factors as well as to extend the study to other sectors beyond health care.
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References
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Afolabi, A. A. (2022). Sustainability of donor-funded health-related programs beyond the funding lifecycle in Africa: A systematic review. Cureus, 14(5), e24643.
Akinwale, Y., & George, O. (2021). Influence of project planning on performance of donor-funded projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Project Management, 39(5), 451–463.
Akinwale, Y., & George, O. (2021). Influence of project planning on performance of donor-funded projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Project Management, 39(5), 451–463.
Amadi, C., & Nwosu, J. (2021). The role of project scope management in mitigating risks of donor-funded programs. International Journal of Project Management, 39(6), 523–534.
Baker, S. (2020). Pilot studies in research design: Principles and practice. Routledge.
Barasa, E., Kamau, P., & Ochieng, F. (2021). The impact of project scope clarity on donor-funded healthcare project success in rural Africa. African Journal of Health Project Management, 7(2), 45–61.
Bryman, A. (2021). Social research methods (6th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Chukwu, L., & Eze, O. (2023). Influence of project planning practices on the success of community-based initiatives. Journal of Project Management Research, 5(1), 45–62.
Chung, H., & Wang, L. (2021). Stakeholder engagement and project success: Evidence from health projects. International Journal of Project Management, 39(4), 321–334.
Congo Ministry of Health. (2025). Annual health sector performance report 2024. Kinshasa: Ministry of Health.
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Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2022). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Davis, F. D., El-Gayar, O., & Pavan, A. (2021). Sampling techniques for multi-stakeholder projects: Ensuring representative data. Journal of Applied Research Methods, 13(1), 77–91.
Denscombe, M. (2020). The good research guide: For small-scale social research projects (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
DeVellis, R. F. (2021). Scale development: Theory and applications (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Fetters, M. D., Curry, L. A., & Creswell, J. W. (2020). Achieving integration in mixed methods designs: Principles and practices. Health Services Research, 55(S2), 341–355.
Field, A. (2022). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Goma City NGO Forum. (2025). Sampling frame for donor-funded healthcare projects in Congo. Unpublished report.
Hesse-Biber, S. N., & Johnson, R. B. (2020). Mixed methods research: Merging theory with practice. Guilford Press.
Hurst, L., Liddicoat, C., & Emslie, C. (2021). Piloting research instruments: Strategies for validity and reliability. Journal of Social Research Practice, 15(1), 12–28.
Jabeen, F., Memon, M., & Ali, S. (2020). The role of conceptual frameworks in enhancing research rigor. Journal of Social Research Methodology, 23(4), 411–425.
Johnson, M., & Taylor, R. (2021). Impact of project scope clarity on timely completion of construction projects in the United States. International Journal of Project Management, 39(8), 821–834.
Kamau, P., & Wekesa, J. (2022). Effect of project scope management on performance of community-based health projects in Kenya. Journal of African Project Studies, 4(2), 77–89.
Kiprono, J., & Kiarie, J. (2023). Influence of project scope management on the performance of donor-funded health projects in Kenya. Journal of Project Management, 8(2), 45-60.
Kivung, C., Osoro, C., & Ngunyi, M. (2021). Conceptual frameworks in research design: Enhancing focus and validity. African Journal of Research Methodology, 12(1), 15–28.
Koskela, L., & Howell, G. (2002). The underlying theory of project management is obsolete. Proceedings of the PMI Research Conference, 293–302.
Kouadio, I., Mensah, D., & Agyeman, S. (2020). Evaluating project implementation outcomes in community health initiatives. Global Health Project Review, 6(1), 58–72.
Kumar, R., Huda, S., & Ghosh, A. (2021). Stratified sampling for health project evaluation: Techniques and applications. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 24(6), 715–729.
Kwena, A. (2022). The importance of scope clarity in project management: Avoiding scope creep and delays. International Journal of Project Planning, 10(2), 45–58.
Lawshe, C. H. (2021). Content validity and its application in health research instruments. Research in Health Measurement, 9(3), 44–56.
Li, J., & Zhang, H. (2024). The role of project scope clarity in sustainable project delivery. Journal of Sustainable Development and Project Management, 12(1), 33–48.
Liu, Y., & Chen, H. (2021). Documentation and scope management in project success. Journal of Project Documentation, 8(3), 102–115.
Maxwell, J. (2020). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Mensah, K., & Boateng, F. (2022). Project scope clarity and performance of health-related donor-funded initiatives in Africa. African Journal of Project Studies, 5(2), 73–88.
Mensah, K., & Boateng, F. (2022). Project scope clarity and performance of health-related donor-funded initiatives in Africa. African Journal of Project Studies, 5(2), 73–88.
Mensah, K., & Boateng, F. (2023). Determinants of successful implementation of donor-funded programs in developing countries. Development Practice and Policy, 18(3), 112–128.
Mir, F., & Pinnington, A. (2021). Exploring the value of project management: Linking theory to practice. International Journal of Project Management, 39(5), 399–413.
Muller, R., & Turner, J. (2021). Governance and project success: Stakeholder alignment in complex environments. Project Management Journal, 52(1), 67–80.
Muriithi, S., & Otieno, D. (2021). Project scope management and performance of development projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Project Organization and Management, 13(2), 101–117.
Mwangi, P., & Kamau, S. (2022). Scope clarity and performance of community health projects in East Africa. Journal of African Project Studies, 5(2), 87–99.
Niyonsaba, J., & Uwizeye, J. (2023). Project scope clarity and implementation success in Rwanda’s agricultural development projects. Rwanda Journal of Development Studies, 9(1), 23–38.
Osei, D., & Boadu, R. (2023). The role of scope definition in reducing risks and enhancing project implementation. Journal of Development Project Management, 11(1), 54–69.
Ozor, O., Etiaba, E., & Onwujekwe, O. (2024). Strengthening the effectiveness of community health system: Assessing the factors that enhance or constrain the delivery of health services within communities in Nigeria. Health Research Policy and Systems, 22, 124.
Pallant, J. (2020). SPSS survival manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Parn, E., & Parn, M. (2020). Scope clarity and its effect on project performance outcomes. International Journal of Project Performance, 7(2), 15–30.
Patel, R., & Kumar, S. (2022). Project scope clarity and implementation success in IT projects: Evidence from India. International Journal of Information Systems Project Management, 10(2), 45–61.
Perez, M., & Garcia, F. (2023). Community engagement in healthcare projects: Lessons from donor-funded initiatives. Journal of Community Health Development, 12(2), 101–116.
Rwanda Ministry of Health. (2024). Health sector strategic plan 2024-2029. Kigali: Ministry of Health.
Smith, A., & Owens, L. (2020). The impact of scope clarity on healthcare infrastructure projects in the UK. Public Sector Project Review, 6(3), 88–102.
Smith, A., Brown, L., & Jones, P. (2022). Resource allocation and project implementation effectiveness: Insights from health sector projects. International Journal of Health Management, 9(1), 23–38.
South African National AIDS Council. (2024). National strategic plan for HIV, TB, and STIs 2023-2028. Pretoria: SANAC.
Sun, Y. (2025). US-China engagement in Africa: A crossroads. Brookings Institution. Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu
Svejvig, P., & Andersen, P. (2020). Rethinking project management: A structured approach with flexibility. International Journal of Project Management, 38(1), 34–45.
Taherdoost, H. (2022). Validity and reliability of research instruments: Concepts and guidelines. International Journal of Research Methodology, 19(2), 21–33.
Tavakol, M., & Dennick, R. (2019). Making sense of Cronbach’s alpha. International Journal of Medical Education, 2(1), 53–55.
Tetteh, K., & Asare, J. (2023). Risk reduction through effective scope definition in development projects. Project Management Research and Practice, 10(1), 44–59.
Thomas, D., & Green, P. (2023). Scope clarity and success of NGO social development projects in Kenya. Journal of Nonprofit Project Management, 5(1), 29–44.
U.S. Agency for International Development. (2024). USAID global health strategy 2024-2030. Washington, DC: USAID.
Ursachi, G., Horodnic, I., & Zait, A. (2020). Improving reliability of research instruments: Cronbach’s alpha considerations. Journal of Applied Quantitative Research, 7(1), 78–85.
Verma, S., & Ranjan, R. (2023). Stakeholder alignment and project scope clarity in emerging economies. International Journal of Project Communication, 8(2), 77–91.
Vogt, W. P., Gardner, D. C., & Haeffele, L. M. (2021). When to use what research design. Guilford Press.
World Bank. (2024). Democratic Republic of Congo overview: Development news, research, data. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org
World Health Organization. (2023). Global health expenditure report 2023. Geneva: WHO.
World Health Organization. (2023). Global health expenditure report 2023. Geneva: WHO.
Yin, R. K. (2021). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Zamanzadeh, V., Ghahramanian, A., Rassouli, M., Abbaszadeh, A., Alavi-Majd, H., & Nikanfar, A. R. (2020). Design and implementation content validity study: Development of an instrument for measuring healthcare project outcomes. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 20(1), 1–9.
Zhang, Y., & Li, H. (2024). Linking project scope clarity to implementation success: Evidence from sustainable development projects. Journal of Sustainable Project Management, 12(2), 65–80.
Zhou, H., & Liu, Y. (2024). Scope clarity as a driver of project success in sustainable development contexts. Journal of Sustainable Project Management, 12(1), 45–61.
Afolabi, A. A. (2022). Sustainability of donor-funded health-related programs beyond the funding lifecycle in Africa: A systematic review. Cureus, 14(5), e24643.
Akinwale, Y., & George, O. (2021). Influence of project planning on performance of donor-funded projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Project Management, 39(5), 451–463.
Akinwale, Y., & George, O. (2021). Influence of project planning on performance of donor-funded projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Project Management, 39(5), 451–463.
Amadi, C., & Nwosu, J. (2021). The role of project scope management in mitigating risks of donor-funded programs. International Journal of Project Management, 39(6), 523–534.
Baker, S. (2020). Pilot studies in research design: Principles and practice. Routledge.
Barasa, E., Kamau, P., & Ochieng, F. (2021). The impact of project scope clarity on donor-funded healthcare project success in rural Africa. African Journal of Health Project Management, 7(2), 45–61.
Bryman, A. (2021). Social research methods (6th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Chukwu, L., & Eze, O. (2023). Influence of project planning practices on the success of community-based initiatives. Journal of Project Management Research, 5(1), 45–62.
Chung, H., & Wang, L. (2021). Stakeholder engagement and project success: Evidence from health projects. International Journal of Project Management, 39(4), 321–334.
Congo Ministry of Health. (2025). Annual health sector performance report 2024. Kinshasa: Ministry of Health.
Council on Foreign Relations. (2025). Sub-Saharan Africa: The essentials - U.S. foreign policy. Retrieved from https://education.cfr.org
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2022). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Davis, F. D., El-Gayar, O., & Pavan, A. (2021). Sampling techniques for multi-stakeholder projects: Ensuring representative data. Journal of Applied Research Methods, 13(1), 77–91.
Denscombe, M. (2020). The good research guide: For small-scale social research projects (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
DeVellis, R. F. (2021). Scale development: Theory and applications (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Fetters, M. D., Curry, L. A., & Creswell, J. W. (2020). Achieving integration in mixed methods designs: Principles and practices. Health Services Research, 55(S2), 341–355.
Field, A. (2022). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Goma City NGO Forum. (2025). Sampling frame for donor-funded healthcare projects in Congo. Unpublished report.
Hesse-Biber, S. N., & Johnson, R. B. (2020). Mixed methods research: Merging theory with practice. Guilford Press.
Hurst, L., Liddicoat, C., & Emslie, C. (2021). Piloting research instruments: Strategies for validity and reliability. Journal of Social Research Practice, 15(1), 12–28.
Jabeen, F., Memon, M., & Ali, S. (2020). The role of conceptual frameworks in enhancing research rigor. Journal of Social Research Methodology, 23(4), 411–425.
Johnson, M., & Taylor, R. (2021). Impact of project scope clarity on timely completion of construction projects in the United States. International Journal of Project Management, 39(8), 821–834.
Kamau, P., & Wekesa, J. (2022). Effect of project scope management on performance of community-based health projects in Kenya. Journal of African Project Studies, 4(2), 77–89.
Kiprono, J., & Kiarie, J. (2023). Influence of project scope management on the performance of donor-funded health projects in Kenya. Journal of Project Management, 8(2), 45-60.
Kivung, C., Osoro, C., & Ngunyi, M. (2021). Conceptual frameworks in research design: Enhancing focus and validity. African Journal of Research Methodology, 12(1), 15–28.
Koskela, L., & Howell, G. (2002). The underlying theory of project management is obsolete. Proceedings of the PMI Research Conference, 293–302.
Kouadio, I., Mensah, D., & Agyeman, S. (2020). Evaluating project implementation outcomes in community health initiatives. Global Health Project Review, 6(1), 58–72.
Kumar, R., Huda, S., & Ghosh, A. (2021). Stratified sampling for health project evaluation: Techniques and applications. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 24(6), 715–729.
Kwena, A. (2022). The importance of scope clarity in project management: Avoiding scope creep and delays. International Journal of Project Planning, 10(2), 45–58.
Lawshe, C. H. (2021). Content validity and its application in health research instruments. Research in Health Measurement, 9(3), 44–56.
Li, J., & Zhang, H. (2024). The role of project scope clarity in sustainable project delivery. Journal of Sustainable Development and Project Management, 12(1), 33–48.
Liu, Y., & Chen, H. (2021). Documentation and scope management in project success. Journal of Project Documentation, 8(3), 102–115.
Maxwell, J. (2020). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Mensah, K., & Boateng, F. (2022). Project scope clarity and performance of health-related donor-funded initiatives in Africa. African Journal of Project Studies, 5(2), 73–88.
Mensah, K., & Boateng, F. (2022). Project scope clarity and performance of health-related donor-funded initiatives in Africa. African Journal of Project Studies, 5(2), 73–88.
Mensah, K., & Boateng, F. (2023). Determinants of successful implementation of donor-funded programs in developing countries. Development Practice and Policy, 18(3), 112–128.
Mir, F., & Pinnington, A. (2021). Exploring the value of project management: Linking theory to practice. International Journal of Project Management, 39(5), 399–413.
Muller, R., & Turner, J. (2021). Governance and project success: Stakeholder alignment in complex environments. Project Management Journal, 52(1), 67–80.
Muriithi, S., & Otieno, D. (2021). Project scope management and performance of development projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Project Organization and Management, 13(2), 101–117.
Mwangi, P., & Kamau, S. (2022). Scope clarity and performance of community health projects in East Africa. Journal of African Project Studies, 5(2), 87–99.
Niyonsaba, J., & Uwizeye, J. (2023). Project scope clarity and implementation success in Rwanda’s agricultural development projects. Rwanda Journal of Development Studies, 9(1), 23–38.
Osei, D., & Boadu, R. (2023). The role of scope definition in reducing risks and enhancing project implementation. Journal of Development Project Management, 11(1), 54–69.
Ozor, O., Etiaba, E., & Onwujekwe, O. (2024). Strengthening the effectiveness of community health system: Assessing the factors that enhance or constrain the delivery of health services within communities in Nigeria. Health Research Policy and Systems, 22, 124.
Pallant, J. (2020). SPSS survival manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Parn, E., & Parn, M. (2020). Scope clarity and its effect on project performance outcomes. International Journal of Project Performance, 7(2), 15–30.
Patel, R., & Kumar, S. (2022). Project scope clarity and implementation success in IT projects: Evidence from India. International Journal of Information Systems Project Management, 10(2), 45–61.
Perez, M., & Garcia, F. (2023). Community engagement in healthcare projects: Lessons from donor-funded initiatives. Journal of Community Health Development, 12(2), 101–116.
Rwanda Ministry of Health. (2024). Health sector strategic plan 2024-2029. Kigali: Ministry of Health.
Smith, A., & Owens, L. (2020). The impact of scope clarity on healthcare infrastructure projects in the UK. Public Sector Project Review, 6(3), 88–102.
Smith, A., Brown, L., & Jones, P. (2022). Resource allocation and project implementation effectiveness: Insights from health sector projects. International Journal of Health Management, 9(1), 23–38.
South African National AIDS Council. (2024). National strategic plan for HIV, TB, and STIs 2023-2028. Pretoria: SANAC.
Sun, Y. (2025). US-China engagement in Africa: A crossroads. Brookings Institution. Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu
Svejvig, P., & Andersen, P. (2020). Rethinking project management: A structured approach with flexibility. International Journal of Project Management, 38(1), 34–45.
Taherdoost, H. (2022). Validity and reliability of research instruments: Concepts and guidelines. International Journal of Research Methodology, 19(2), 21–33.
Tavakol, M., & Dennick, R. (2019). Making sense of Cronbach’s alpha. International Journal of Medical Education, 2(1), 53–55.
Tetteh, K., & Asare, J. (2023). Risk reduction through effective scope definition in development projects. Project Management Research and Practice, 10(1), 44–59.
Thomas, D., & Green, P. (2023). Scope clarity and success of NGO social development projects in Kenya. Journal of Nonprofit Project Management, 5(1), 29–44.
U.S. Agency for International Development. (2024). USAID global health strategy 2024-2030. Washington, DC: USAID.
Ursachi, G., Horodnic, I., & Zait, A. (2020). Improving reliability of research instruments: Cronbach’s alpha considerations. Journal of Applied Quantitative Research, 7(1), 78–85.
Verma, S., & Ranjan, R. (2023). Stakeholder alignment and project scope clarity in emerging economies. International Journal of Project Communication, 8(2), 77–91.
Vogt, W. P., Gardner, D. C., & Haeffele, L. M. (2021). When to use what research design. Guilford Press.
World Bank. (2024). Democratic Republic of Congo overview: Development news, research, data. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org
World Health Organization. (2023). Global health expenditure report 2023. Geneva: WHO.
World Health Organization. (2023). Global health expenditure report 2023. Geneva: WHO.
Yin, R. K. (2021). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Zamanzadeh, V., Ghahramanian, A., Rassouli, M., Abbaszadeh, A., Alavi-Majd, H., & Nikanfar, A. R. (2020). Design and implementation content validity study: Development of an instrument for measuring healthcare project outcomes. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 20(1), 1–9.
Zhang, Y., & Li, H. (2024). Linking project scope clarity to implementation success: Evidence from sustainable development projects. Journal of Sustainable Project Management, 12(2), 65–80.
Zhou, H., & Liu, Y. (2024). Scope clarity as a driver of project success in sustainable development contexts. Journal of Sustainable Project Management, 12(1), 45–61.