“We have to adapt and find the best solution for this context.“ - A Comparative Case Study of the Patterns of Success in two Swedish Technical Assistance Projects with Kenyan Government Agencies

Abstract: Technical assistance to public sector organisations is a much-debated topic and showcases a considerable size in contemporary international development assistance. Yet, the empirical evidence base on which factors contribute to the outcomes of projects within this field is surprisingly slim and diffuse. Particularly, the mechanisms through which different factors affect project outcomes remains understudied. This study aims to contribute to this research gap analyse which factors can be associated to successful project outcomes in two selected TA projects. Additionally, it seeks to uncover mechanisms through which the different factors have affected the performance of the projects. The analysed cases are two Swedish TA projects implemented at Kenyan governmental agencies between 2010 and 2020. The research design followed a comparative case study framework, using empirical data collected through semi-structured interviews and project-related documents. Employing an abductive analysis strategy, codes and themes were identified within the empirical material, indicating possible explanatory factors, which were subsequently substantiated through key arguments and concepts of Problem-driven Iterative Adaptation. Three main factors were found to have led to successful project outcomes: the projects engaged in collaborative processes of demand-driven and context-sensitive problem definition; the project designs were based on a holistic conceptualisation of the targeted problem and its root causes; both projects became more successful concerning relevance, impact, and effectiveness once they employed an adaptive and contextually responsive strategy for project implementation. As such, the results are line with the conclusions of previous studies, whilst additionally contributing with a detailed analysis of the mechanisms through which the factors affect the project outcomes.