Utilisation of public sector evaluation findings and recommendations in evidence informed decision making
Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Abstract
The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) function can assist governments in evaluating the performance of their programmes through the identification of those factors which contribute positively and those that do not contribute positively to service delivery outcomes. The value of evaluations is that they generate evidence that can be used to inform policy and practice and thus provide support to the government to achieve its development priorities. However, there is inadequate empirical evidence relating to evaluation utilisation in evidence informed decision making the public sector and, more specifically, in the Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), South Africa. The purpose of this research is to explore the utilisation of public sector evaluation findings and recommendations in evidence- informed decision making (EIDM) in the DALRRD. The study followed a qualitative research strategy through a case study research design to allow for the in-depth collection of rich data from the respondents. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using an interview guide, supported by reviewing the six evaluation reports (documents) from evaluations conducted by DAFF and DRDLR on agriculture support programmes. The review of the evaluation reports was guided by the use of a predetermined checklist with four distinct criteria. Purposive sampling of 13 departmental officials in the senior management service was used to identify interview participants. The unit of analysis was the department and the officials, who were the respondents were the unit of observation. Six broad themes were identified from the thematic analysis to explain the findings. The themes were; understanding the value of evaluations in the National Evaluation Plan; factors that influence evaluation use; types of evaluation use; mechanisms of change in the use of evaluation findings as evidence in EIDM; evidence-informed systems or decision making, and practices or strategies that promote evaluation use. The major findings show that there is limited utilisation of the evaluation results in decision making across the six evaluations reviewed. In conclusion, while there is some evidence of evaluation use, in general, the evidence
shows that there is limited use of evaluation results in evidence informed decision iii making. Further, strategies that promote the practice of evaluation utilisation, as recommended in the study could be considered for implementation, including institutionalising evaluations in the department
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in 50% fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management (in the field of Public and Development Sector Monitoring and Evaluation), Johannesburg 2023
Keywords
Evaluation use, Evidence-informed decision making, DALRRD, evaluation utilisation
Citation
Senda, Musawenkosi. (2023). Utilisation of public sector evaluation findings and recommendations in evidence informed decision making [Master’s dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. WireDSpace. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/39926