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Part A: Introduction to rapid evaluation

1. Introduction

2. Purpose of Guideline

3. What do we mean by Rapid Evaluations

4. Deciding when to use rapid evaluations (why consider, advantages/disads, which situations

5. Deciding how to implement rapid evaluations

6. Summary of the main features of rapid evaluations

Part B: Designing a rapid evaluation Structured as per DPME Guideline:

This toolkit provides a framework to think about rapid evaluations, and provides example questions, indicators and tools to do it.

Rapid evaluations is, in many ways, relatively straightforward. It is however, new in the government system, and this resource provides information and a helping hand with how to embed it in the work of the interested official.

Rapid evaluations address the need to quickly assess policy/programme/strategy/function delivery, and establish the main performance data, with main recommendations for improvements. They help us to understand and learn from what works, what doesn’t, when and for whom. It is also an important tool for accountability, helping departments and entities to demonstrate uptake, and that our work as policy/programme/project/strategy/service delivery managers is of high quality and useful. Rapid evaluations are the latest addition to the National Evaluation System in government, and can be undertaken internally by officials, and/or involve procurement of service providers.

This toolkit is intended for use by officials in evaluations,, research and policy/programme/project/service delivery implementation working in national/provincial/local government departments and Schedule I & II entities.

It is based the work of the DPME extend the NES to include rapid evaluations to encourage sharing and learning; to improve the quality, reach and use of evaluations; and to produce evidence for decision-making quickly. Rapid evaluations is still a work in progress; we are publishing this guide in the hope that it will be useful to others, but also that it will invite discussion and shared learning.

Evaluations are important for assessing the performance of an intervention and how it can be strengthened. The National Evaluation Policy Framework (NEPF) 2019 suggests the use of rapid evaluations as one of the forms of evaluation to be considered (DPME, 2019). It suggests that ‘Quick evaluations are conducted during emergencies2; or as part of preliminary analysis to help determine priorities, identify emerging problems and trends, and enable decision-making to either support a full-scale evaluation or project adjustments to meet the needs or project objectives. It may be responding to an unplanned senior management request or demand for urgent information, a juncture where a critical decision needs to be made on a programme or intervention and up to date information is needed urgently. The implementation of this type of evaluation is usually faster, more dynamic and complex’ (ibid p 24).

Strategic Context for Rapid Evaluations

2019 – 2024 MTSF
combines NDP Five-Year Implementation Plan with revamped Integrated
Monitoring System and accountability framework;

• National Spatial Development Framework and monitored – Implementation
  Delivery Model at District Municipal level
• public trust and confidence in local government to increase from 46% to
  80% by 2024

Implementation model (Sukuma Sakhe): national & provincial SPs, APPs,
Integrated Planning Framework Bill, to ensure better integration across
all levels of Government. Project Monitoring at District Municipalities

Public- Private- Growth Initiative (PPGI) to promote economic growth
and create jobs

Bridge gap between government and people – Izimbizo Programmes
(linked to Performance Agreements for Ministers), etc.

In terms of living no one behind, localization of SDGs is part of the Uganda SDG roadmap and Office of the Prime Minister through the coordination M&E framework is working closely with local governments to make SDGs known to all citizens in the simplest way. Uganda through the National Standard Indicators framework reviews KPIs to ensure capturing of gender disaggregated data. The 2018/19 Government Performance Assessment captured aspects of progress of some SDG indicators across sectors including those social development. This is in addition, several intervention benefiting the vulnerable.