Project Management Practices and Development Outcomes in USAID-Funded Health Projects in North West Nigeria

USAID-funded health projects in North West Nigeria operate under complex institutional arrangements requiring adaptive project management practices to achieve development outcomes in resource-constrained settings. This study empirically examines project management practices and their relationship to development outcomes in USAID-funded health projects in Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Katsina States. A cross-sectional survey will recruit 230 project coordinators, implementing partner staff, USAID project management specialists, and community health officers from five active health projects. Project management practice quality will be assessed across planning, implementation, M and E, adaptive management, and learning dimensions. Development outcomes including health service utilization, coverage rates, and community beneficiary satisfaction will be measured. Multiple regression and path analysis will identify PM practice predictors of outcomes. While USAID project management standards are internationally benchmarked, their application in North West Nigeria's specific socio-cultural and security context creates unique challenges. Findings will inform project design and management capacity development for implementing partners and USAID Nigeria. Keywords: project management, USAID, health projects, North West Nigeria, development outcomes