Stakeholder Engagement and Project Performance: A Case of the Value-Added Initiative to Boost Employment (VIBE) Development Project in Gasabo District, Rwanda
Remy Turatsinze and Samuel Wabala
University of Kigali, Rwanda
Email: turaremy@gmail.com
Abstract: This study examined the effect of stakeholder engagement on the performance of the Value-Added Initiative to Boost Employment (VIBE) Development Project in Gasabo District, Rwanda. The study focused on four dimensions of stakeholder engagement: communication, participation, collaborative partnerships, and conflict resolution. A quantitative cross-sectional research design, supported by qualitative approaches, was adopted. From a population of 792 stakeholders comprising implementing agencies, government institutions, private sector organizations, and women-led MSME beneficiaries, 266 respondents were selected using purposive and systematic random sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The findings showed that all four dimensions of stakeholder engagement had a significant positive effect on project performance. Stakeholder communication had the strongest effect (β = 0.284, p = 0.000), followed by stakeholder conflict resolution (β = 0.267, p = 0.000), stakeholder participation (β = 0.241, p = 0.000), and collaborative partnerships (β = 0.219, p = 0.001). The regression model explained 65.9% of the variation in project performance (R² = 0.659). Qualitative findings, however, indicated that women entrepreneurs had limited influence over resource allocation and strategic decisions, while power imbalances persisted among international partners, government institutions, and beneficiary groups. The study concludes that effective stakeholder engagement is important for improving project performance. Strengthening transparent communication, meaningful participation, coordinated partnerships, and fair conflict-resolution mechanisms can enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of multi-stakeholder development projects in Rwanda.
