Integration of Participatory Project Life-Cycle Management Practices and Performance of Mango Farming Projects: Empirical Evidence from Kenya

Abstract

This study examined how integrated participatory project life-cycle management practices influence the performance of mango farming projects. It assessed the application of participatory approaches across project initiation, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, as well as the constraints limiting their effectiveness. Using a pragmatism paradigm and a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 375 respondents (drawn from a population of 12,622 using the Krejcie and Morgan formula), along with interviews from 15 key informants. Findings revealed a strong positive relationship between combined participatory practices and project performance (r = 0.822, p < .01). Regression results indicated that these practices explained 66.8% of the variance in performance (R² = 0.668), with a significant positive effect (B = 0.88, p < .001). Key barriers included limited institutional support, inadequate information, market instability, financial constraints, pest and disease challenges, low technical skills, and weak extension services. The study recommends strengthening integrated participatory approaches and addressing systemic barriers to enhance project performance, sustainability, and farmer livelihoods. Received: 02 March 2026 / Accepted: 30 April 2026 / Published: May 2026