African Monitoring and Evaluation Systems: Exploratory Case Studies
Date
2012-09
Authors
Porter, Stephen
Djidjoho, Aristide N.
Houinsa, David G
Amoatey, Charles
Machuka, Samson
Okumu, Boscow W.
Muteti, Francis
Simwa, Vivienne C.A
Himbara, David
Momar, A. Ndiaye
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
CLEAR-AA
Abstract
This publication is comprised of six monitoring and evaluation (M&E) case studies from Benin, Ghana,
Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, and Uganda. Together these case studies formed the basis of discussion at an
African M&E Systems Workshop held in March 2012, in Pretoria, South Africa.
While the individual case studies detail learning from specific African country contexts, the accompanying
synthesis paper entitled The Growing Demand for Monitoring and Evaluation in Africa captures some of the
broader trends and issues that are emerging across the cases.
So why African M&E case studies? Although prior studies do exist, the African governance terrain is
changing rapidly; governments are responding to increased demand for results and accountability from
citizens, and M&E systems are evolving to generate information that can be used by civil society, the
executive, and the legislature. As a pan-African community of practitioners, substantive case studies are
needed to provide an evidence base for learning from each other’s experience.
The case study exercise itself grew out of cooperation at Ministerial level between Burundi and South
Africa. Minister Chabane subsequently tasked the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation
(DPME) in the South African Presidency, to undertake a learning event on M&E systems across a range of
African countries.
In partnership with the Centre for Learning on Evaluation and Results (CLEAR) housed at the Graduate
School of Public and Development Management at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, the
DPME hosted a conference to which four senior officials from each of the six participating countries were
invited. Using open dialogue techniques, delegates were able to reflect on the case studies, analyse M&E
within their own country in terms of what was working well, and identify potential areas for learning and
improvement. The event concluded with a call for further exchange opportunities, and a deepening and
widening of cross-country learning.
The case studies should not be read as definitive diagnostics on the state of M&E in the countries
concerned, but rather as first steps in building an evidence-based approach to M&E across the continent.
More importantly, they represent a commitment from government practitioners to reflect and learn from the
practice of M&E, and establish local solutions to M&E challenges confronting African countries
Description
This publication is comprised of six monitoring and evaluation (M&E) case studies from Benin, Ghana,
Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, and Uganda. Together these case studies formed the basis of discussion at an
African M&E Systems Workshop held in March 2012, in Pretoria, South Africa.
While the individual case studies detail learning from specific African country contexts, the accompanying
synthesis paper entitled The Growing Demand for Monitoring and Evaluation in Africa captures some of the
broader trends and issues that are emerging across the cases.
So why African M&E case studies? Although prior studies do exist, the African governance terrain is
changing rapidly; governments are responding to increased demand for results and accountability from
citizens, and M&E systems are evolving to generate information that can be used by civil society, the
executive, and the legislature. As a pan-African community of practitioners, substantive case studies are
needed to provide an evidence base for learning from each other’s experience.
The case study exercise itself grew out of cooperation at Ministerial level between Burundi and South
Africa. Minister Chabane subsequently tasked the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation
(DPME) in the South African Presidency, to undertake a learning event on M&E systems across a range of
African countries.
In partnership with the Centre for Learning on Evaluation and Results (CLEAR) housed at the Graduate
School of Public and Development Management at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, the
DPME hosted a conference to which four senior officials from each of the six participating countries were
invited. Using open dialogue techniques, delegates were able to reflect on the case studies, analyse M&E
within their own country in terms of what was working well, and identify potential areas for learning and
improvement. The event concluded with a call for further exchange opportunities, and a deepening and
widening of cross-country learning.
The case studies should not be read as definitive diagnostics on the state of M&E in the countries
concerned, but rather as first steps in building an evidence-based approach to M&E across the continent.
More importantly, they represent a commitment from government practitioners to reflect and learn from the
practice of M&E, and establish local solutions to M&E challenges confronting African countries
Keywords
M&E systems in Africa, African case studies