Opportunities and challenges for Made in Africa Evaluation Capacity Development: South African experiences
Date
2022-10
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Abstract
Made in Africa Evaluations (MAE) is an Afrocentric approach of conducting evaluations to reformulate western approaches of conducting evaluation. Indigenised evaluations differentiate evaluation approaches, methods and tools as informed by beneficiaries. Evaluation Capacity Development (ECD), on the other hand, focuses more on strengthening the skills, abilities, processes and resources of evaluation practices. ECD’s intention is to create support, that equips evaluators with the leadership support, resources and opportunities to use skills acquired to practice their skills. The aim of the study is to unpack
the definition of MAE, understanding the tools, methods and approaches by interviewees. In order to gain insights on in what ways are South African evaluators incorporating Made in Africa Evaluation approaches and what are the opportunities as well as challenges for evaluation capacity development? The study used both the transformative/ emancipatory approach and indigenous paradigm to analyse the data gathered from literature review and interviews conducted. Interviewing an array of stakeholders including government, independent evaluators, private consultancies and VOPE’s. From the literature review
conducted, the results of the study forked in its findings. With limited visibility and relevance of MAE in South African evaluations, the discussions focus more on M&E challenges in South Africa – looking at the barriers to entry for local evaluators; what are the skills and competencies required for professionalisation of M&E and what types of ECD initiatives are required to improve the M&E practice. The findings of the research are relevant to the wider study of M&E in South Africa and broadly Africa, on understanding the correlation between what types of ECD initiatives needed to strengthening M&E by getting on the ground experiences of challenges evaluators face
Description
A research report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of of Master of Management in Public and Development to the faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023
Keywords
Made in Africa Evaluations (MAE), Evaluation practices, UCTD
Citation
Moilwa, Matshediso. (2022). Opportunities and challenges for Made in Africa Evaluation Capacity Development: South African experiences [Master’s dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. WireDSpace.