PRACTICE AND CHALLENGES OF GRANT AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN THE CASE OF PACT ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify the Practices and Challenges of Grant and Contract Management System in the Case of Pact Ethiopia. To meet this aim, descriptive survey research design was employed with a target population of employees in Pact-Ethiopia and its Sub-grantees. Data was collected by using questionnaires and key informant interview techniques. The study found that Pact-Ethiopia has well established policies, procedures and guidelines used in grant and contract management, yet there are limitations on making them timely and operational across the entire organization. The selection and identification of subgrantee was competitive nature which are compliant to government directives; requirements of grantors (donors); other stakeholders and targeted to the prevalent problems in the country. However, the grant fund burning rate was very low. It was also found that the monitoring and evaluation were not cooperative and supportive, rather supervisory nature. To curb these problems, the management needs to enhance its grant and contract management capacity to enable them properly lead grants and contracts efficiently and effectively to meet the intended goals of the organization. In a nutshell, Pact-Ethiopia need to perform self-assessment on its competency level on the efficient and effective management of grant and contract to identify the root causes of weakness and underperformances in certain grant management competency.