Management of Development Projects Funded by International Development Partners in Sokoto State: An Assessment of Donor Alignment and Local Ownership

This study assesses the management of development projects funded by international development partners in Sokoto State, with a focus on the alignment between donor priorities and state development planning objectives and the degree of local ownership in project design and implementation. International aid effectiveness debates, anchored in the Paris Declaration and Accra Agenda, have emphasised local ownership as essential for sustainable development outcomes, yet donor-state alignment challenges persist in Nigeria. Drawing on aid effectiveness theory and recent development project management literature from 2020 to 2024, the study employs a professional practitioner design. Data are gathered from 160 state government officials, development partner representatives, project implementation unit managers, and community beneficiaries through interviews and document analysis of project reports. Content analysis and programme performance benchmarking are applied. The study anticipates finding that many donor-funded projects in Sokoto State are designed without adequate local context integration, rely heavily on external technical assistance, and fail to embed sustainability mechanisms within state systems. Political economy dynamics that influence project site selection and resource deployment are also examined. Recommendations will address joint planning frameworks, capacity building for state project management units, and improved transition planning to embed donor-funded interventions within recurrent government budgets. Keywords: development project management, donor alignment, local ownership, aid effectiveness, Sokoto State