Measuring effectiveness and efficiency of governmental programmes in developing countries : significance, techniques and challenges

Abstract

This article discusses the significance, techniques and challenges of measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of governmental programmes and highlights the need for developing countries, particularly in Africa, not just to monitor, but also evaluate and utilise findings. A shift from implementation of monitoring to results-based monitoring and evaluation (RBM&E) in public sector management has put governments globally under pressure to show tangible results produced by programmes they initiate. Governmental programmes are results-based, designed and deployed to achieve specific external social objectives. RBM&E involves performance monitoring and evaluation, that is, tracking programmes, comparing their initial results with targets, providing feedback and facilitating corrective action, and establishing why programme outcomes and impacts are, or are not, being achieved. Therefore, it is essential to improving service delivery, achieving effectiveness, efficiency and providing value for money. The article also examines techniques of assessing programme effectiveness and efficiency. Creation of the Ministry of Planning and Ministry of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation within the South African Presidency is seen as signalling a new attitude to effectiveness and efficiency measurement in government. Challenges to measuring programmes’ effectiveness and efficiency are highlighted as well as the sporadic use of evaluation in Africa. The need for an entrenched evaluation culture in the public sectors of African countries, which tend to have a not-so-successful record of programme performance, is argued as essential for widespread successful management of governmental programmes. Greater focus.