Influence of Health Support Services and Stakeholder Engagement on the Performance of Gender-Based Violence Funded Projects in Kilifi County, Kenya

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a persistent violation of human rights in Kenya’s coastal region, where donor- and government-funded response projects have recorded uneven and, at times, unsustainable performance despite substantial financial and technical investment. Little empirical evidence links specific project management practices to the performance of GBV-funded interventions in Kilifi North Sub-County. This study examined the influence of health support services and stakeholder engagement on the performance of GBV-funded projects in Kilifi County, Kenya. Anchored on Stakeholder Theory and the Theory of Change, the study adopted a descriptive survey design targeting 800 respondents comprising project managers and coordinators, healthcare providers, monitoring and evaluation officers, GBV survivors, and community leaders and beneficiaries, from whom a sample of 260 respondents was drawn using Yamane’s formula. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and key informant interviews; 197 questionnaires were returned, a 75.8% response rate. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistical techniques with the help of SPSS Version 27, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Findings: Respondents rated confidentiality (M = 3.72), compassionate care (M = 3.74), and the availability of specialised services (M = 3.72) positively, yet accessibility (M = 2.56) and timeliness of services (M = 2.64) remained weak, constraining project performance. Under stakeholder engagement, resource adequacy (M = 3.76) and encouragement of help-seeking (M = 3.74) were rated favourably, but access barriers (M = 2.71) and stigma (M = 3.70) persisted. Qualitative evidence showed that consistent, inclusive engagement of local leaders, health officers, and survivors strengthened trust, referral systems, and project acceptance. Recommendations: Strengthening the accessibility and timeliness of health support services and institutionalising consistent stakeholder engagement are critical levers for improving the performance of GBV-funded projects in Kilifi County. Keywords: Gender-Based Violence; Health Support Services; Stakeholder Engagement; Project Performance; Funded Projects