Digital technology for strengthening national evaluation systems
An evaluative culture is about fostering a mindset and nurturing an environment wherein continuous learning and reflection is valued and integrated into the decision-making process of an organisation (whether public or private sector). After attending the sixth edition of the Benin Evaluation Days conference, which took place from 4-6 October 2023, one came to the realization that this continuous learning and reflection occurs at different levels of the decision-making process. Digital technology for strengthening national evaluation systems was the conference’s three-day theme.
I came away from the conference with a greater understanding of how learning and reflection are essential components of any decision-making process, be it national, international, donor, or M&E sector related. As increasingly diverse panels discussed the introduction /adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automated data collecting technologies, it became evident to me as an M&E practitioner working in a eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality that my work was not excluded from this significant conversation.
AI appeared like a distant future for a practitioner in a local municipality of a developing country. However, it became apparent that AI tools like ChatGPT were already producing data quicker than humans could comprehend. If ChatGPT is not adopted correctly, it could have detrimental effects on evaluators. A panel discussion headed by government representatives started this very difficult conversation which does not seem very far-fetch and too distant in the future anymore. Furthermore, the use of digital technology levels the field in the global evaluation arena in terms of its inevitable efficiency and reliability.
I concluded that this requires a differently trained monitoring and evaluation practitioner in the eThekwini Municipality. Programs for capacity building that teach M&E practitioners how to use technology are important and necessary. Additionally, eThekwini Municipality needs to have a policy position on the use of ChatGPT and the ethics thereof. A Strathub which is the integrated data source for eThekwini Municipality, must function immediately to allow M&E to start analysing data to inform decision making. Therefore, the integration of digital technology into a national or municipal evaluation system requires a strategic approach. At an organization level, there needs to be policy positions for the adoption or customization of different technologies for M&E use. At a Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Unit level, there needs to be capacity building initiatives for M&E practitioners on the use of technology geared towards real-time data gathering and analysis. Furthermore, at a personal practitioner level, there must be a willingness to change towards more productive use of technology.
Role of technical and financial partners
The idea of the technical and financial partners in fostering and evaluating culture was something else I took away from the conference. The function of financial and technical partners was described as important to forming alliances to increase capacity and efficiency of those who are task with evaluating.
With over 15 years of experience in the M&E industry, one is aware of the potential for exploitation associated with outsourcing evaluation studies and the belief held by the private sector that externally conducted evaluations yield better results. Nonetheless, it became evident during the panel discussion of the technical and financial partners that some organisations wanted to work with the government to provide services rather than take advantage of it.
The efforts of organizations like the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), Twende Mbele, J-Pal Afrique, United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), and the Partnership for Economy Policy (PEP) to advance the practice of evaluation in African countries by fostering knowledge exchange, capacity building, and supporting the application of evidence-based decision making impressed me. As a result, I have brought these possible collaborations
to the attention of the Chair of the Metro Learning Network, a forum for M&E practitioners from all the metropolitan municipalities in South Africa.
Moreover, one looks forward to a dialogue with potential technical and financial partners on how they could assist in capacitating the M&E practitioner within eThekwini Municipality on the use of technology for data collection and analysis.
Khululiwe Faya is the Manager of the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of eThekwini Municipality, She has worked at national and subnational spheres of the Government of the Republic of South Africa for over 15 years.
Tanzania MEL Week 2023
TANZANIA MEL WEEK 2023
The Office of the Prime Minister (PMO) of Tanzania in partnership with Tanzania Evaluation Association (TanEA) is organized the 2nd Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Week Conference from 12th – 15th September, 2023 in Arusha, Tanzania. The theme of the conference was Strengthening Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning for Improving Government Performance.
Specific objectives of the conference was to; (i) promote monitoring, evaluation and learning practices among communities; (ii) Promote M&E culture in the government and sharing information and learnings best practices from local and international development programmes; (iii) advocate for MEL and the development of a culture for demand and use of evaluations and (iv) Showcase the best in tourism activities in Tanzania.
Twende Mbele was represented at the conference by Mr Nathan Otutu from the Office of the Prime Minister of Uganda. He presented on “Boosting Service Delivery through Strengthened Local Government Assessments: Insights from Uganda’s LGMSD Framework”. The link to the presentation can be found by pressing Here.
Journées Béninoises de l’Évaluation 2023
Journées Béninoises de l’Évaluation 2023
La Direction Generale d’Evaluation et de l’Observatoire du Changement Social (DGEOCS) a organisé la sixième édition des Journées béninoises de l’évaluation sur le thème, le numerique au service du renforcement des systeme nationaux d’evaluation du 4 au 6 octobre 2023 à Contonou au Bénin.
EVIDENCE CONFERENCE 2023
EVIDENCE CONFERENCE 2023
The EVIDENCE biennial event began in 2014 with the intention of bringing together members of the AEN to explore how to enhance the overlaps in their work to support evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) in Africa. This year’s event aimed to bring together the Pan-African community for learning, sharing, and relationship-building; provide an opportunity for connection and collaboration to enhance mutual learning and the development of new ideas about supporting EIDM; build content for EIDM practice and provide opportunities to share EIDM practice experiences of different experts in the community. The theme of Evidence 2023 was coming together to build a knowledge base for evidence-informed decision-making practice.
Validation of the Diagnostic Report on the State of M&E Evidence Use in the Ugandan Public Sector Planning and Budgeting
Validation of the Diagnostic Report
Twende Mbele and the Government of Uganda are validated the diagnostic report on state of M&E evidence-use in public sector planning and budgeting. Accompanying the Report are Guidelines mapping pathways for facilitating greater M&E evidence use in whole-of-government planning and budgeting.
The workshop participants reflected on the veracity of the diagnostic report and practicality of the Guidelines. The digitalisation of information systems across National Development Plan Programmes positioned as a key enabler of M&E evidence use in government.
The sector Ministries reflected on the need to improve the perception of M&E in the public service. It was re-enforced that M&E is more than just data collection but a performance enhancing tool.
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