A roadmap, similarities and lessons learnt from national monitoring and evaluation systems in Africa

Abstract

The traditional public administration and public management discourses give an indication of the value of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in public administration. M&E is widely accepted as a key management-forefficiency and accountability tool. The shift from performance management to performance governance adds to already identified and accepted public administration needs for M&E. M&E facilitates better management of a complex public service environment consisting of multiple stakeholders within and outside the public service. Beginning in the 1980s, Africa started to acknowledge the paramount importance of M&E systems. After almost three decades of introducing M&E as an organised management tool, Africa still lags behind on establishing robust and comprehensive National Monitoring and Evaluation Systems (NMES) that inform policy processes and facilitate decision-making. The article shares experiences, challenges and lessons learnt from adoption and institutionalisation of NMES in the region. Learning from the NMES roadmap facilitates future improvements. The article has been prepared using a qualitative methodology and with reference to the findings it is found that the evolution of M&E in Africa resulted from both internal and external forces for results, accountability and proper use of resources.