Business Continuity Plans and Voluntary Contributions by Financial Donors: A Case of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Regional Office in Eastern Africa

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of business continuity plans on voluntary contributions by donors to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Regional office in Eastern Africa. The specific objectives were to determine the effect of employee characteristics on voluntary contributions by donors to UNODC regional office in Eastern Africa, to evaluate the effect of data management on voluntary contributions by donors to the UNODC regional office in Eastern Africa and to determine the effect of Supplies on voluntary contributions by donors to the UNODC in Eastern Africa (Appendix III). The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive research design guided by cross sectional survey to provide a framework to examine current conditions, trends, and status of events. The research population of the study was the 138 grant offices of the partnering donors with UNODC that were in the same breath be the sampling frame. Simple random sampling technique was adopted in selecting the respondents because of the heterogeneity of the respondents. Primary data was collected using questionnaires as the main instruments respectively. Permission from UNODC Regional Representative with an attached approval permit from the National Commission for Science, Technology, and Innovation (NACOSTI) in addition to Institutional Research Board (IRB) was forwarded to the HR Department to allow the Research Assistants (RAs) administer the questionnaires to the sampled contributors of financial support to the organizations. The analysis was done at 5% significance level. To determine the significance of the coefficients, the F- test was used whereby an F-value greater than 0.05 was considered insignificant, otherwise the variable was significant and considered to affect the level of voluntary donor contribution to the activities of UNDOC. To determine the overall extent in which the dependent and independent variables are related, the researcher used coefficient of determination (R2) to determine how much variation in Y is explained by X. Based on the first specific objective, descriptive statistics established that employee characteristics is given priority by the human resource management particularly during recruitment process. With a mean of greater than 3.5 (agreement), the findings imply that various employee characteristic indicators are envisaged in the UNODC offices. Additionally, the study established a positive and a significant relationship between employee characteristics and voluntary contribution by financial donors. With a coefficient of 0.209 and a significant value of 0.045, the findings imply that advancing the strategies of employing qualified employees with desired characteristics enhances the willingness of financial donors to contribute to the organization. Regarding the second specific objective, descriptive statistics shows that majority of the respondents agreed (mean>3.5) that indeed, UNODC offices have implemented data management strategies. In addition, inferential statistics established a positive and significant relationship between data management and voluntary contribution by financial donors. A unit advancement in data management strategies improves the willingness of financial donors to contribute financial aid towards the operation of UNODC offices by 0.296 units (α=0.007). On the relationship between supplies and voluntary contribution by financial donors, descriptive statistics established that majority of supply chain indicators had a mean of 3.5 and above. In this regard, there is efficient supply chain framework in UNODC offices. On the other hand, inferential statistics established that UNODC offices have implemented effective supply chain framework that enhances the willingness of financial donors to contribute financial resources to the organization. As a result of a positive regression coefficient β=0.468 and the significance value of α=0.000, the implication drawn is that there is a positive and significant relationship between organizational supplies and voluntary contribution by financial donors. The study recommends that appropriate measures should be taken to enhance hiring of quality workforce. First, based on the findings and conclusion of the first specific objective, human resource management should enhance strategies to boost the knowledge base of the workforce to install the best characteristics in accordance with UNODC code of conduct. Secondly, as indicated by the relationship between data management and voluntary contribution by financial donors, the study also recommends that the management of UNODC and other NGOs should ensure that there is a well laid framework to enhance database management system. Thirdly on organizational supplies and voluntary contribution by financial donors, the study recommends to the management to ensure employees are trained on the necessities for an efficient supply chain process.