English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

This study aimed to investigate on solid waste collection within Nairobi County residential areas managed by youth groups dealing with environmental projects. The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of technical skills on performance of youth environmental projects in Nairobi County. The study’s unit of analysis was 70 youth environmental groups projects comprised of 700 youth group members engaged on solid waste management projects in Nairobi County. The study used a sample size of 248 group members, based on Krejcie and Morgan’s sample table. Proportionate method was applied to calculate the sample strata, where simple random sampling was used on the sampled strata. Key informants from 4 departments of Directorate of Youth affairs were purposely selected. The study adopted descriptive survey and correlational research designs using Participatory Action Research approach. Research instruments entailed questionnaires, observation checklists, an interview guide, a focus group discussion guide and structure forms for content analysis. Qualitative data was analyzed and presented in themes while quantitative data was analyzed descriptively using percentage frequencies, mean, and standard deviation. Inferentially, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis including hypotheses t-test were used as tools of analysis to test for significance on the study null hypothesis which stated that: H0: Technical skills do not significantly influence performance of youth environmental projects in Nairobi County. From the findings of regression and correlation analysis, the correlation output showed that technical skills characteristics were statistically significant (P-values under significant 2-tailed were all less than α=0.05) towards performance of youth environmental projects. The correlation index between technical skills and performance was positive and significant, r (247) =.715; p≤.05. This inferred that as the level of technical skills increases, the performance levels also increases. This implied that the null hypothesis was rejected and the conclusion made that: H1: There is a significant influence of technical skills on performance of youth environmental projects in Nairobi County, which was the alternative hypothesis. Keyword: Project Management, Technical skills, performance of youth environmental projects THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT ISSN 2321–8916 www.theijbm.com 375 Vol 7 Issue 7 DOI No.: 10.24940/theijbm/2019/v7/i7/BM1907-040 July, 2019 well as a platform for engaging with the broader politics of basic services, which also has interfaces with “sustainability” initiatives that invite alternative market-based approaches to address the challenges of poverty. These studies point out to a vibrant waste enterprise, devoid of policy or legislative, which is often unrecognized unhygienic, tedious, and potentially hazardous interventions whose contributions are rarely documented or quantified. These activities rank lowest in the waste recycling rung where participants are largely the urban poor, especially urban youth (Ahmed and Ali 2006). On a broader scale, waste segregation reduces the burden of waste collection and disposal that minimizes loads of waste that need to be transported to dump sites especially at household level. These include recycling and re-using products where‘re-use’ involves using the product more than once for the same or a different purpose. Composting is also termed a good way of disposing biodegradable waste materials, especially in residential areas. It can provide compost for urban agriculture and create more local jobs. The innovative waste management schemes undertaken by youth in urban Kenyan shanty towns are deemed to be increasingly rendering waste material a valuable commodity. Waste has become a source of income generation and a way to provide service to communities where public service provision is otherwise absent. Youth groups collect solid wastes from residents’ homes and businesses and dispose them properly. Other youth workers collect, buy, and resell recycling materials to bigger companies that turn the recyclables into various products that get back to the market (Kajamaa, 2011). Access to finance services and markets is one area for action with technical skill building for youth project performance in particular, support for social enterprises including public-private employment opportunities. Low-income youth are less likely to have access to financial project management skills including financial opportunities, which is a contributing factor in growing income and asset inequality (Frumkin, 2002). Project management technical skills on environmental issues teaches youths how to gainfully rein habit their total environment instead of merely residing; like cyclones in Madagascar and typhoons in the Philippines through participation in “youth-led virtual projects (Frumkin, 2002). 1.1. Statement of the Problem Environment offers context for alienated youth, towards re-engaging in gainful environmental projects that improves their livelihoods (Achankeng, 2003). Waste dumped in open areas attracts pests, the dumps occasionally catch fire and are public health and environmental hazard. Waste collection rates in urban areas are higher than ideal and Municipalities in charge of collection are not able to generate a good fee collection rate, since residents do not get good services; thus, always reluctant to pay; exacerbating the vicious cycle of poor waste management save; residential areas (Frediani, Walker, and Butcher, 2013). However, systematic research reviewed on this study shows increasing number of studies have started to pay attention to solid waste disposal and management, using sustainable and suitable methods to deal with urban solid waste challenges. This is to gainfully benefit the bulging number of jobless youths, particularly lowincome urban youth; to enable them find positive and meaningful ways to engage in environmental projects by reducing the amount of solid waste that has been dumped or burnt while creating meaningful jobs that can improve their livelihoods (ILO, 2017). Kenya’s population is reported to comprise of 75 percent youth with overall youth unemployment rate reported at 55.3 percent by the end of the year 2016 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor 2016). This has been described as a ticking bomb, with idle frustrated young men and women susceptible to drugs, prostitution, or even being lured into terrorism (Afon, 2012). In lieu of this, 70 youth environmental group projects out of 400 registered youth groups in Nairobi County pose as “waste pickers” in solid waste management projects for their livelihood. However, there is scanty youth’s business progress or discontinuance rates reported in these environmental projects, with scanty indicators on performance (YEDF, 2016). Studies that are carried out in Kenya shows that quite a number of youth projects have been successful, especially various environmental projects in previous years that addressed the challenge of youth employment through adopting an Entrepreneurship Training Manual to facilitate youths environmental projects through Youth Enterprise Development Fund loans (YEDF). The objective of these serial projects is to increase economic opportunities for the youth as a way of enabling them to participate in nation building. The environmental youth projects are hence expected to meet economic needs, fit within government-funded programme objectives, and add value to the beneficiaries’ whilst providing employment, or self-employment opportunities by opening up business ventures for the bulging youth population as exit opportunities from the programme (UNEP, 2006). The paradox in this research is that despite all these government funded youth initiatives, Performance of many of the youth environmental projects in all the 47 counties in Kenya remains thin, irrespective of government funding, save Nairobi County which has more youths accessing government projects funding and training aggravated by proximity (Afon, 2012). Literature reviews show that youth lack project management technical skills and self-confidence which may impact on their creativity and innovative ability to enable them take calculated risks and to use available opportunities as well as available business government support for gainful projects startups and growth (Kenya economic survey 2015). They lack patience to manage prolonged projects and will always opt for what seems to be scarce quick and profitable fixes. Some of the urban youth today choose to waste their days doing drugs and playing video games or sitting home in front of their televisions playing games all day and spend their nights partying or on criminal activities; instead of bettering themselves in the world of work; hence remain vulnerable to crime and social unrest (Kimando, Njogu and Kihoro, 2012). Literature reviewed has not answered this menace, “ennui” state on youths; why they are not enthusiastic on environmental projects uptake despite the many initiatives and loans availed by the government. This study therefore alludes to the impetus of technical skills as a component of project management skills on performance of environmental projects (Monroe, Cheng, 2010). The study therefore seeks to investigate the missing links leading to poor performance of youth groups’ solid waste management projects; by investigating how project management technical skillsinfluence performance of youth environmental projects. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT ISSN 2321–8916 www.theijbm.com 376 Vol 7 Issue 7 DOI No.: 10.24940/theijbm/2019/v7/i7/BM1907-040 July, 2019 1.1.1. Objective of the Study The study was guided by the following objective: To examine the influence of technical skills on performance of youth environmental projects in Nairobi County. 1. 1.2. Research Hypothesis The researc

international journal of business and management

Solid Waste Management Projects in Nairobi County, Kenya: Analytical Review of Project Management Technical Skills and Performance of Youth Environmental Projects