Monitoring and Evaluation Practices for Small Business Sustainability in Palestine: A Qualitative Research from Owners’ Perspective رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

Small Business Sustainability is a serious concern in many developing countries, where small businesses, many of which are implemented at high costs, frequently have problems with sustainability. When it comes to Palestine, enhancing sustainability will be a great solution for assisting small businesses to be resilient within the uncertain political and socioeconomic context. This study aimed to clarify the link between Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) practices and small businesses' sustainability (Social, Environmental, and Economic). The researcher employed a descriptive approach and qualitative research design. The thematic analysis technique was used to analyze the data obtained through Structured interviews with twenty-four (24) small business owners, who were selected using purposive snowball sampling. The results showed that adopting M&E practices is critical for small business sustainability. M&E improves social sustainability (better stakeholders’ engagement, improved customers’ trust and retention, improved employees’ loyalty, improved knowledge exchange, and communication). M&E enhances Environmental sustainability (increased awareness towards more sustainable behaviors and practices, identifying environmental challenges, minimizing business negative impacts on the environment, ensuring business compliance, optimizing resources’ consumption) as well as improves Economic sustainability (informed strategic decisions, ensuring business compliance, reduce the impact of political and economic uncertainty, enhancing business performance, enable risk management, easy access of market changes). The study provided a set of recommendations, including that small businesses should adopt knowledge-based M&E practices and enhance the role of respective authorities and governmental bodies, e.g., the Ministry of National Economy, to provide advisory and consulting platforms for VI entrepreneurs. Besides, small businesses should partner with donors, industry associations, NGOs, or governmental agencies to share resources, expertise, and knowledge in implementing Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) practices.