EGERTON UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY STUDIES

DEPARTMENT: APPLIED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

PROJECT PARTNERS

NELLY AWUOR ABUOR: E19/01522/18

MARTIN MAINA: E19/01523/18

LAVENDER OBONYO: E19/01533/18

NYAGOL PETER BRIAN: E19/01531/18

CDEV 428: PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING AND EVALUATION

PROJECT SUPERVISOR: DR OLUBANDWA

ASSIGNMENT: NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 12TH OCTOBER 2022

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The needs assessment was conducted at Kilimo Early Childhood Development Education
Teaching School located in Egerton University, Njoro Sub-County, Nakuru County on June
2022. The institution was established in 1978, and it is under the management of Kilimo Primary
School which is also located in Egerton University. The school has a population of 310 learners
and 17 staff members who comprise of 15 teaching staff and 2 kitchen staff. Learners in the
institution are between the ages of two and a half and five years old. The learners comprise of
Play Group, Pre-Primary 1 and Pre-Primary 2.

The needs assessment was conducted by students from the department of Applied Community
Development Studies. The project partners included; Nelly Awuor Abuor, Nyagol Peter Brian,
Martin Maina and Lavender Obonyo.

OBJECTIVES OF THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT

i. To identify the challenges facing Kilimo ECDE Teaching Center.

ii. To identify the resources available at the Kilimo ECDE Teaching Center.
iii. To identify solutions to the challenges facing Kilimo ECDE Teaching Center.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT
The needs assessment was conducted in order to analyze gaps as well as strengths and assets
available in Kilimo E.C.D.E Center.
By conducting a needs assessment, it is possible to identify the current and desired state for the
learners, staff and management of Kilimo E.C.D.E. Centre.
The needs assessment was conducted in order to determine what kind of solutions are needed to
gain the desired results at Kilimo E.C.D.E. Center so as to incite positive change more
effectively.
The needs assessment was conducted so as to provide data to justify proposed solutions for needs
identified in Kilimo E.C.D.E. Centre.
DATA COLLECTION METHODS
The following methods were used to collect data during the needs assessment:
Observation
During the visit to Kilimo E.C.D.E. Center, in order to identify observable needs, gaps and
resources, direct observation was method was used. An observation guide was generated so as to
capture the needs assessment process and have a record of needs observed.
Observation Guide;

DATE IDENTIFIED NEED OBSERVATION

17th May 2022 Plain unpainted pavements The pavements behind the
school administration and
around the school playground
was plain and unpainted
thereby unaesthetically
unappealing

17th May 2022 Collapsed sand pit The roofing at the sandpit in
Kilimo E.C.D.E Centre has
collapsed and the sandpit no
longer being used. The
collapsed roof poses danger to
learners who wander off to the
area

17th May 2022 Damaged fence The fence surrounding Kilimo

E.C.D.E center is worn out
and the supporting beams
collapsed. This poses a
security threat to the
institution from outsiders.

17th May 2022 Lack of a roof shade at the The kitchen area at Kilimo
kitchen area E.C.D.E Centre lacks a roof
 shade which makes it difficult
for kitchen staff to undertake
kitchen duties during rainy
conditions, or they are forced
to persevere the scorching sun
and work under the heat.

17th May 2022 Under-utilized kitchen garden The kitchen garden at Kilimo
E.C.D. E Center occupies a
small portion on the institution
regardless of the school’s
large piece of land. The
kitchen garden can therefore
not meet the school’s
vegetable demands forcing
them to purchase vegetables
from outsiders.

17th May 2022 Poor ventilation in the kitchen The kitchen at Kilimo
E.C.D.E is poorly ventilated
and as a result, circulation of
air is poor leading to
overheating in the kitchen.

INTERVIEW
In order to collect data, we an interview was conducted using an interview guide which had
questions that provided data relevant to the needs assessment. The interview was conducted on
the school headmistress, the deputy headmistress, the teachers, the learners and the kitchen staff.
Interview Guide Questions
SECTION A
Socio-demographic
 i. How many learners are enrolled at Kilimo E.C.D.E Center?
ii. How many staff members work at Kilimo E.C.D.E Center?
iii. What is the minimum and maximum age of learners enrolled in Kilimo E.C.D.E Center?
iv. How many classes does Kilimo E.C.D.E Center have?
SECTION B
Economic
i. Where does Kilimo E.C.D.E Centre get funds for running the school?
ii. What resources are under-utilized in Kilimo E.C.D.E Centre?
iii. Where does Kilimo E.C.D.E Center management get its’ food supplies from?
v. What meals are offered to the learners at Kilimo E.C.D.E?

KEY FINDINGS
From the needs assessment conducted, the following needs were identified:

a. Damaged fence- The fence surrounding Kilimo E.C.D.E center is worn out and the
supporting beams collapsed. This poses a security threat to the institution from
outsiders.
b. Under-utilized kitchen garden- The kitchen garden at Kilimo E.C.D. E Center
occupies a small portion on the institution regardless of the school’s large piece of
land. The kitchen garden can therefore not meet the school’s vegetable demands
forcing them to purchase vegetables from outsiders.
c. Poor ventilation in the kitchen- The kitchen at Kilimo E.C.D.E is poorly ventilated
and as a result, circulation of air is poor leading to overheating in the kitchen.
d. Lack of a roof shade at the kitchen area- The kitchen area at Kilimo E.C.D.E Centre
lacks a roof shade which makes it difficult for kitchen staff to undertake kitchen
duties during rainy conditions resulting in delays, or they are forced to persevere the
scorching sun and work under the heat.
e. Plain pavements behind the school administration- The pavements behind the school
administration and around the school playground are plain and unpainted thereby
unaesthetically unappealing.
 f. Collapsed sandpit- The roofing at the sandpit in Kilimo E.C.D.E Centre has collapsed
and the sandpit no longer being used. The collapsed roof poses danger to learners
who wander off to the area

STRENGTH AND LIMITATIONS OF NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Strength of the needs assessment
i. There is a good relation between Egerton University and Kilimo Early Childhood
Development Education Centre and this has made it easier to form partnerships.
ii. Kilimo Early Childhood Development Education Centre is within Egerton University
and this has enabled ease of access to the institution as it is within walking distance.
iii. Maximum cooperation from the Kilimo Early Childhood Development Education
Centre management made conducting the process of needs identification easier.
iv. Maximum guidance and support from Dr. Olubandwa, the project supervisor.
v. Warm reception at all times by the school management and staff made it possible to
conduct the needs identification as well as conduct interviews exhaustively.
Limitations of the needs assessment
i. There was limited time to fully exhaust all the possible needs and resources available.
ii. There are limited funds from the donors which made it impossible to provide solutions to
all the identified needs and only give priority to the most pressing needs.

CONCLUSION
Kilimo E.C.D.E. Teaching Centre has several needs that need to be addressed. Some needs are
more predominant unlike others and therefore, it is important that before selecting a need to
address, it should be well analyzed before being selected as the most suitable and a solution
offered. By solving one need, another need may be indirectly solved and this will a positive
impact on the end goal.
It is essential that the weaknesses, strengths, opportunities and threats are analyzed before
selecting a need for the project.
 SELECTED NEED
From the needs assessment, the following need was selected by the project partners so as to
provide a sustainable solution to it.

PROBLEM TREE

Effects

The school compound is unesthetically pleasing

The school compound does not portray that it is a young learners’

institution

Problem- Plain unpainted Pavements

Root Causes

No funding from the government

The school is incurring other expenses and

can’t support all projects

No other sources of money other than

parents who pay school fess
PROBLEM

PLAIN UNPAINTED PAVEMENTS

ROOT CAUSES

1. Kilimo E.C.D.E Center does not receive support from the government monetarily and
because of these, they rely on funds from parents in order to undertake school projects.
This has limited the number of projects that can be done by the institution.
2. The school cannot undertake several projects since it is incurring other expenses such as
paying staff members and therefore very little money is left to support school projects.
3. The school has several projects they would like to undertake and that are of equal priority
to them hence there is a challenge in carrying them all out at once

EFFECTS

Negative effects

1. The school compound is unaesthetically unappealing because the pavements are plain
and unpainted.
2. The institution does not have the physical outlook of a young learner’s institution.
3. There is limited enhancement of education outside of class.

Positive effects

1. There will be enhancement of education outside of class.

2. Kilimo E.C.D.E. Teaching Center will have the physical outlook that symbolizes it is a
young learner’s institution.
3. Kilimo E.C.D.E. Teaching Center’s school compound will be aesthetically pleasing
because it will be painted with different bright colors and letters.