Effect of Technical Assistance on the Performance of Nutritional Projects in Rwanda: A Case Study of Burera District

This study examined the effect of technical assistance on the performance of nutritional projects in Rwanda, using Burera District as a case study. The research was motivated by persistent disparities in nutrition outcomes in rural areas despite the implementation of various nutrition programs such as the USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose Project. The study was guided by the Resource-Based View theory and the Theory of Change, emphasizing technical assistance as a key resource that enhances implementation capacity and project outcomes. A descriptive and correlational research design was adopted using a mixed-methods approach. A sample of 380 respondents was selected from a target population of 34,200 stakeholders using the Krejcie and Morgan sampling technique. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 28. Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, frequencies, and percentages) were used, while simple regression analysis was applied to examine the relationship between technical assistance and project performance. The findings revealed that nutritional projects in Burera District performed well, with a composite mean of 4.05 indicating strong agreement that projects achieved their objectives, were completed on time, and generated positive community nutrition outcomes. Similarly, technical assistance was highly rated (composite mean = 4.06), with respondents confirming that it improved operational efficiency, strengthened staff capacity, and enhanced nutritional outcomes. Regression analysis showed a strong and statistically significant positive relationship between technical assistance and project performance (R = 0.869, R² = 0.756, p < 0.001), indicating that technical assistance explains 75.6% of the variation in project performance. The study concludes that technical assistance is a critical determinant of the success of nutritional projects in Burera District, significantly enhancing efficiency, capacity building, and sustainability of outcomes. It recommends strengthening continuous technical support through mentorship and supervision, increasing investment in local capacity building by government and development partners, and integrating structured, context-specific technical assistance mechanisms into future nutrition programs to improve effectiveness and long-term sustainability.