Project Strategic Alignment and Performance of Livestock Value Chain Projects in Northern Frontier Counties of Kenya

County governments were created for the purpose of Despite substantial investments in livestock value chain projects in Kenya’s Northern Frontier Counties, performance gaps persisted, evidenced by declining off-take volumes, stagnant incomes, rising livestock mortality, and continued market volatility. Empirical studies and project evaluations consistently pointed to weak strategic alignment as a core challenge, where project objectives were insufficiently aligned with county development plans, pastoralist needs, and evolving market dynamics. This misalignment led to fragmented implementation, inefficient prioritization of interventions, and limited realization of intended project outcomes. This study therefore focused on examining the influence of strategic alignment on the performance of livestock value chain projects in Kenya’s Northern Frontier Counties, namely Turkana, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Isiolo, and Samburu. The study was anchored primarily on Project Management Theory, Resource-Based View Theory, and Contingency Theory, which emphasize alignment between organizational strategy, available resources, and contextual realities as critical determinants of project success.The target population comprised 283 key stakeholders involved in livestock value chain projects, including project managers, field officers, veterinary personnel, community leaders, pastoralist representatives, and private sector actors. Using Slovin’s formula, a sample size of 165 respondents was determined, and stratified random sampling was employed to ensure proportional representation across stakeholder groups and counties. Quantitative data were collected and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques.Regression analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between strategic alignment and livestock project performance, indicating that projects closely aligned with county policies, market demands, and community priorities achieved better outcomes in terms of productivity, income generation, and sustainability. Strategic alignment accounted for a significant proportion of the variation in project performance, and the ANOVA results confirmed that the relationship was statistically significant (p < 0.05).The study concluded that effective strategic alignment is a critical driver of performance in livestock value chain projects in Kenya’s Northern Frontier Counties. Aligning project goals with county development strategies, ensuring coherence between donor objectives and local needs, and adapting interventions to contextual realities were found to enhance efficiency, accountability, and long-term impact. However, challenges such as weak inter-county coordination and inconsistent alignment between project design and implementation persisted. The study recommends strengthening strategic planning processes, enhancing coordination mechanisms, and continuously reviewing project strategies to ensure sustained alignment throughout the project lifecycle.