Determinants of Sustainability in Community-Based Child Centres: A Case Study of Compassion International-Assisted Child Development Centres in Kilome Sub-County, Makueni County, Kenya

This study investigates the determinants of sustainability for community-based child centers, specifically focusing on Compassion International-supported child development centers (CDCs) in Kilome Sub-County, Makueni County, Kenya. Sustainability remains a significant challenge for community-based programs, with research indicating that nearly 40% of such initiatives discontinue within the first few years following initial funding cessation. Guided by Resource Mobilization Theory, Stakeholder Theory, and Sustainability Theory, a descriptive research design was applied. The study targeted 108 individuals, including accountability structure managers and project staff at Ngaamba and Kima CDCs, with a sample size of 85 respondents calculated using Yamane’s formula (1967). Data collection involved questionnaires, key informant interviews, and secondary literature sources. In contrast, data analysis employed descriptive statistics for quantitative data and content analysis for qualitative data, with results presented in tables and visual charts. Findings indicate that funding models, community participation, and program leadership significantly impact the sustainability of CDCs. Recommendations include diversifying funding sources through CDC leadership and enhancing community involvement as primary stakeholders. The study found that the leadership style predominant in the CDCs was identified as transformational, with 63.5% of respondents affirming this characterization. From the findings, 84.7% of respondents confirmed that community members were actively involved in the implementation of child development projects. Furthermore, a significant 72.9% of respondents believed that programme leadership affected sustainability to a “great†or “very great†extent, highlighting the critical role of effective leadership in mobilizing resources and facilitating stakeholder engagement. These insights may aid policymakers and practitioners in improving resource mobilization strategies and fostering sustainable community-based child development initiatives.