Mark Abrahams - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Mark Abrahams

Research paper thumbnail of The Seventh Biennial South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association Conference 2019: Shaping M&E for a Sustainable Future – Editorial

African Evaluation Journal

Research paper thumbnail of Editorial: Addressing knowledge asymmetries in memory of Dr Sulley Gariba

African evaluation journal, Jun 21, 2024

What remains to be determined is the most effective means of assessing and analyzing the growth a... more What remains to be determined is the most effective means of assessing and analyzing the growth and development of human capacity and the 'intangible' interventions that coalesce to generate increased capacities for development at the grassroots. (Gariba 1998:64) Some of the goals of collective action are long-term processes, such as democratising government or gaining recognition and policy space for slum dwellers or for the livelihood activities for informal traders in Africa's urban centres. When evaluated against these broad processes, collective action may be considered to have failed. However, uncovering the intermediate or unintended benefits of collective action, such as the building of an aware citizenry, may change what we consider to be 'success' or 'failure'.

Research paper thumbnail of Growing and nurturing monitoring and evaluation on the African continent

African Evaluation Journal

Research paper thumbnail of Editorial: The African Evaluation Association 2019 Conference Edition

African Evaluation Journal, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of Making Sense of the Transitional Maelstroms of Part- Time Students and Their Conceptions of Learning as Mediated by Contextual Domains of Work, Family and Self. A Case Study of Undergraduate, Part-Time, Political Studies Students at a University in South

The traditional trajectory of young students in higher education in South Africa is currently und... more The traditional trajectory of young students in higher education in South Africa is currently under sharp scrutiny and the general provision is considered to be inadequate in terms of quality, diversity and quantity. There is a proposal to increase the participation rate of young people between the ages of 18 and 24 from 16 % (in 2011) to 23 % by 2030 (DHET, 2012). Already, the increase in access to young school leavers without the concomitant resource allocation has resulted in the inability of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) to continue to provide access to ‘non-traditional ’ working adults in some of its programmes. The large classes for young undergraduates, the necessary foundation/support programmes to assist under-prepared school leavers, recent demands to increase postgraduate study output and to publish are related pressures influencing the decisions to limit undergraduate part-time studies for adult learners. To address this ‘dilemma ’ an action research project w...

Research paper thumbnail of Evidence-based decision-making in the era of big data

African Evaluation Journal, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of The Seventh Biennial South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association Conference 2019: Shaping M&E for a Sustainable Future – Editorial

512, the name of the fifth author was given incorrectly. The correct name should be Volker Schöer... more 512, the name of the fifth author was given incorrectly. The correct name should be Volker Schöer instead of Volker Schoër in the 'Author' and 'How to cite this article' sections. This correction does not alter the study's findings of significance or overall interpretation of the study's results. The publisher apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Research paper thumbnail of Making sense of the transitional maelstrom of part-time students and their conceptions of learning as mediated by conceptional domains of work, family and self. A case study of undergraduate, part-time political studies students at a university in South Africa

The traditional trajectory of young students in higher education in South Africa is currently und... more The traditional trajectory of young students in higher education in South Africa is currently under sharp scrutiny and the general provision is considered to be inadequate in terms of quality, diversity and quantity. There is a proposal to increase the participation rate of young people between the ages of 18 and 24 from 16% (in 2011) to 23% by 2030 (DHET, 2012). Already, the increase in access to young school leavers without the concomitant resource allocation has resulted in the inability of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) to continue to provide access to ‘non-traditional’ working adults in some of its programmes. The large classes for young undergraduates, the necessary foundation/support programmes to assist under-prepared school leavers, recent demands to increase postgraduate study output and to publish are related pressures influencing the decisions to limit undergraduate part-time studies for adult learners. To address this ‘dilemma’ an action research project was l...

Research paper thumbnail of Editorial – 2019: Omniscience of monitoring and evaluation

African Evaluation Journal, 2019

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) processes and results can illuminate; they can inform and they ca... more Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) processes and results can illuminate; they can inform and they can make sense of a complex contextual environment but they also have the potential to obfuscate, to complicate and/or to oversimplify complex situations and practices. According to advocates of the results-based management framework, all we need are clearly defined expected results, a delivery strategy, to make sure we measure and evaluate performance, to make adjustments where necessary and we will be able to improve conditions over time-or at least we will have evidence to suggest effectiveness and efficiency. The good news is that governments in Africa, businesses big and small as well as the general public are beginning to accept the need for M&E processes and results that can inform planning and sustainable development. There is also a synergetic relationship between M&E and good governance. M&E contributes to good governance by promoting accountability among other things, and good governance-a reflective and responsive process designed to serve the best interests of stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe-creates an enabling environment for M&E. Good governance also includes a culture of self-assessment, to learn from experience and to improve the outputs, outcomes and impacts of the policies and programmes being pursued. The pursuit of good governance, be this at the project, programme or policy level, is a collective ongoing challenge. The principles of good governance should inform the M&E approach and outcomes so that developmental policies and their implementation are not constrained by the political, social and economic environments but positively influenced instead. This edition showcases M&E practices across the African continent and beyond in various contexts. M&E is used in the economy, for governance, for development and, most importantly, for learning.

Research paper thumbnail of Erratum: Editorial: Measuring social impact investment

African Evaluation Journal, 2019

In addition, the following acknowledgement statement was omitted from the article published earli... more In addition, the following acknowledgement statement was omitted from the article published earlier. The statement is hereby updated and added: 'Genesis Analytics and Sibulele Walaza, the guest editor for this edition, coordinated a call for papers and called on the support of several individuals to assist the authors in preparing their papers. The following individuals assisted the authors of the Social Impact Investment papers: Zenda Ofir, Jane Reisman, Nicole Mertens, Yaquta Fatehi and Bianca Samson. We are grateful for their contribution'. This correction does not alter the significance or overall interpretation of the editorial. The editor apologises for any inconvenience caused.

Research paper thumbnail of A realist assessment of the implementation of blended learning in a South African higher education context

South African Journal of Higher Education, 2016

Opportunities for further studies by working adults came under threat as the University of the We... more Opportunities for further studies by working adults came under threat as the University of the Western Cape stopped the offering of after-hours classes in most of its Faculties. Unqualified and under-qualified librarians were directly affected by this decision. This article outlines an assessment of the conceptualisation and implementation of an action research project initiated by the Division for Lifelong learning. Using a realist evaluation approach, the assessment focuses on the implementation of strategies aimed at showing how lifelong learning opportunities, conceptualised and provided in flexible ways, could support innovation in learning and teaching in order to enhance access and success to learning by working people in the context of the Library and Information Science Department.

Research paper thumbnail of A participatory process toward a critical discourse: English second language teachers in South Africa

Participa tory Research as a r e s earc h met hodology a nd co ns iders short-term an d l ong-ten... more Participa tory Research as a r e s earc h met hodology a nd co ns iders short-term an d l ong-ten implica tions for furthe r r es e a r c h. Th i s t hesi s cOlltrlbul,;es to not i ons of participa tory research and to t h e ana lytical capacity of the participants. ill I need to thank in particular Clar Doyle and Susan Ahearn of Memorial Uni ve r si t y of Newfoundland for their ccaeents , critique , and encouragement while superv ising the study. By always making themselves available and i s s u i ng constructive criticism when I needed it, they eeee the task of completinq this study easier. During the i ni t i a l stages of the research, Dirk Meerkotter of the University of the Western Cape and Roger siDlon of the Ontar io Institute for Studies in Education offered valuable advice. without the participants in this study, Edgar, Phumla , Cecelia, Tony , Carl and Howard, this project would never neve been possible. Their commitment to a change in the educational arena i n South Africa if> to be commended. Host of all, t ha nks is due to Maureen Robinson, my friend, tv co lleag u e and co mrade. She was there from the beg inn ing t o the end, a l l a yi ng my f e a r s a nd doubts an d t r an slat i ng t h e m into posi tive t hc.. ...g hts and a cti on .

Research paper thumbnail of Theory-based evaluation of community development : a South African case study

Introduction and background Evaluation research is more than the application of methods. It is al... more Introduction and background Evaluation research is more than the application of methods. It is also a political and managerial activity, an input into the complex mosaic from which emerge policy decisions and allocations for the planning, design, implementation, and continuance of programs to better the human condition. (Rossi and Freeman, 1993, p. 15) Programme evaluation or evaluation research, as a distinct discipline and a field of study is relatively new in South Africa (Louw, 1998, Potter, 1999, Potter and Kruger, 2001). Its development in South Africa was stymied in part by the interdisciplinary nature of programme evaluation, trying to find roots within historically, a very discipline based higher education system. Programme evaluation practice in South Africa has, within this time-frame, a history of being conducted by academics and professionals trained in, among others, Psychology, Sociology, Education or Political Science. Another reason for the slow development of programme evaluation in South Africa as forwarded by De Vos (1998), is that of political engineering under apartheid rule. She maintains that during the 1980s the then Department of Health Services and Welfare initially reserved the benefits of a programmatical approach to development for the white population in South Africa. The white department, administering exclusively to a minority population group, first had to master the art of programme development and evaluation before the expertise could be passed on to the other departments. This paucity in evaluation studies of development programmes initiated by the government and non-government organisations (NGOs) is a concern that is slowly being addressed. Over the last decade, government agencies and NGOs, often using international donor funds for their own projects have been engaged in outsourcing evaluation studies and some departments, such as Land Affairs and Public Works, have

Research paper thumbnail of Accountability, autonomy, and authenticity: assessing the development waltz conducted to a ‘kwaito’ beat in Southern Africa

Development in Practice, 2008

For the purposes of accountability and uniformity, and as a way of giving insight into their inte... more For the purposes of accountability and uniformity, and as a way of giving insight into their intellectual capital regarding development practices, NGOs in Southern Africa are required by donor agencies to describe their intended activities in very clear, unambiguous terms. These requirements may include the expression of theoretical approaches, the development of logical frameworks, clear objectives, indicators for success, criteria for sustainable development, and relationships to government policies. However, the interface between reality and these planning measures and tools, most often completed without the input and contributions of the communities whom they are to serve/service, produces a much more messy, dynamic, and involved picture of the development process. None the less, the NGOs are still required to be accountable on the basis of their original proposal and planning. The author presents examples of this phenomenon and discusses the challenges facing an evaluator when dealing with competing principles of accountability, autonomy, and authenticity.

Research paper thumbnail of A review of the growth of monitoring and evaluation in South Africa: Monitoring and evaluation as a profession, an industry and a governance tool

African Evaluation Journal, 2015

South Africa is one several African countries with an official ministry responsible for monitorin... more South Africa is one several African countries with an official ministry responsible for monitoring and evaluation (M&E). Some of the other countries include Ghana, Kenya, Benin and Uganda. The development of M&E in South Africa has been stymied in part by its interdisciplinary nature, trying to find roots within historically a very discipline-based higher education system. Over the last ten years, however, there has been a huge increase in the number, scope and quality of evaluations conducted in this country. Government agencies and Non-government organisations (NGOs) often using international donor funds for their own projects, have been engaged in outsourcing evaluation studies, and currently all government departments have established their own M&E units. There are statutory bodies such as the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Department for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) with the responsibility to monitor and evaluate the government’s service delivery and perf...

Research paper thumbnail of Made in Africa Evaluation

African Evaluation Journal

The debate around Made in Africa Evaluation (MAE) is a timely one, which urges M&E professionals ... more The debate around Made in Africa Evaluation (MAE) is a timely one, which urges M&E professionals in Africa to reflect on their profession and their practices. It asks the question: what does it mean for evaluation to be rooted in the African context? It acknowledges the colonial and precolonial African history, the resulting governance systems, the inequalities, the gender concerns, the multiple worldviews informed by traditionalism and the conflicting norms, values and diverse cultural nuances of the African context. The debate further demands clarity about the theoretical foundations of MAE, how it should be defined and what it looks like in practice.

Research paper thumbnail of Erratum: The Seventh Biennial South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association Conference 2019: Shaping M for a sustainable future – Editorial

African Evaluation Journal, 2021

512, the name of the fifth author was given incorrectly. The correct name should be Volker Schöer... more 512, the name of the fifth author was given incorrectly. The correct name should be Volker Schöer instead of Volker Schoër in the 'Author' and 'How to cite this article' sections. This correction does not alter the study's findings of significance or overall interpretation of the study's results. The publisher apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Research paper thumbnail of 8th AfrEA International Conference edition editorial

African Evaluation Journal, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Special edition of African Evaluation Journal on the national evaluation system

African Evaluation Journal, 2015

Overview of the edition This edition is a significant marker-recognising the development and impl... more Overview of the edition This edition is a significant marker-recognising the development and implementation of a national evaluation system in South Africa. The system was established in 2011 and 50 evaluations have been completed, are underway or are starting, representing around 6−6-6−7 billion of government expenditure, as well as many elements of a comprehensive system at national and provincial levels. South Africa thus joins a few countries in the world that have national systems: Mexico and Colombia, which are well known and from whom we have learned, Canada, Chile, Peru and our peers who we are working with closely in Africa, Uganda and Benin. At the same time, a key text has been written on evaluation management in South Africa and Africa, which was launched in May 2015 and which we review in this edition (we refer to this as the Book), which gives a broader historical perspective, as well as more theoretical background to evaluation and practice on the African continent. This system has not emerged in a vacuum. The article by Abrahams outlines some of the history of the evolution of evaluation in South Africa from the early 1990s. He relates three trends that emerge from this-evaluation as an emerging profession, how evaluation has emerged as part of the governance role in the country and also how this has driven the development of evaluation as an industry, with an emerging set of companies and universities providing evaluation services. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) has been studied internationally since the 1960s, covered by Charlene Mouton et al., and by Goldman et al. in the Book, and driven since the 1980s by the emergence of the new public management approach with its focus on measurement. Mackay (2008) quotes in the Book: The performance orientation of the public management is here to stay. It is essential for successful government. Societies are now too complex to be managed only by rules for input and process and a publicspirited culture. The performance movement has formalized planning, reporting, and control across many governments. This has improved the information available to managers and policy makers. (p. 554

Research paper thumbnail of Editorial: Measuring social impact investment

African Evaluation Journal, 2018

In addition, the following acknowledgement statement was omitted from the article published earli... more In addition, the following acknowledgement statement was omitted from the article published earlier. The statement is hereby updated and added: 'Genesis Analytics and Sibulele Walaza, the guest editor for this edition, coordinated a call for papers and called on the support of several individuals to assist the authors in preparing their papers. The following individuals assisted the authors of the Social Impact Investment papers: Zenda Ofir, Jane Reisman, Nicole Mertens, Yaquta Fatehi and Bianca Samson. We are grateful for their contribution'. This correction does not alter the significance or overall interpretation of the editorial. The editor apologises for any inconvenience caused.

Research paper thumbnail of The Seventh Biennial South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association Conference 2019: Shaping M&E for a Sustainable Future – Editorial

African Evaluation Journal

Research paper thumbnail of Editorial: Addressing knowledge asymmetries in memory of Dr Sulley Gariba

African evaluation journal, Jun 21, 2024

What remains to be determined is the most effective means of assessing and analyzing the growth a... more What remains to be determined is the most effective means of assessing and analyzing the growth and development of human capacity and the 'intangible' interventions that coalesce to generate increased capacities for development at the grassroots. (Gariba 1998:64) Some of the goals of collective action are long-term processes, such as democratising government or gaining recognition and policy space for slum dwellers or for the livelihood activities for informal traders in Africa's urban centres. When evaluated against these broad processes, collective action may be considered to have failed. However, uncovering the intermediate or unintended benefits of collective action, such as the building of an aware citizenry, may change what we consider to be 'success' or 'failure'.

Research paper thumbnail of Growing and nurturing monitoring and evaluation on the African continent

African Evaluation Journal

Research paper thumbnail of Editorial: The African Evaluation Association 2019 Conference Edition

African Evaluation Journal, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of Making Sense of the Transitional Maelstroms of Part- Time Students and Their Conceptions of Learning as Mediated by Contextual Domains of Work, Family and Self. A Case Study of Undergraduate, Part-Time, Political Studies Students at a University in South

The traditional trajectory of young students in higher education in South Africa is currently und... more The traditional trajectory of young students in higher education in South Africa is currently under sharp scrutiny and the general provision is considered to be inadequate in terms of quality, diversity and quantity. There is a proposal to increase the participation rate of young people between the ages of 18 and 24 from 16 % (in 2011) to 23 % by 2030 (DHET, 2012). Already, the increase in access to young school leavers without the concomitant resource allocation has resulted in the inability of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) to continue to provide access to ‘non-traditional ’ working adults in some of its programmes. The large classes for young undergraduates, the necessary foundation/support programmes to assist under-prepared school leavers, recent demands to increase postgraduate study output and to publish are related pressures influencing the decisions to limit undergraduate part-time studies for adult learners. To address this ‘dilemma ’ an action research project w...

Research paper thumbnail of Evidence-based decision-making in the era of big data

African Evaluation Journal, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of The Seventh Biennial South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association Conference 2019: Shaping M&E for a Sustainable Future – Editorial

512, the name of the fifth author was given incorrectly. The correct name should be Volker Schöer... more 512, the name of the fifth author was given incorrectly. The correct name should be Volker Schöer instead of Volker Schoër in the 'Author' and 'How to cite this article' sections. This correction does not alter the study's findings of significance or overall interpretation of the study's results. The publisher apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Research paper thumbnail of Making sense of the transitional maelstrom of part-time students and their conceptions of learning as mediated by conceptional domains of work, family and self. A case study of undergraduate, part-time political studies students at a university in South Africa

The traditional trajectory of young students in higher education in South Africa is currently und... more The traditional trajectory of young students in higher education in South Africa is currently under sharp scrutiny and the general provision is considered to be inadequate in terms of quality, diversity and quantity. There is a proposal to increase the participation rate of young people between the ages of 18 and 24 from 16% (in 2011) to 23% by 2030 (DHET, 2012). Already, the increase in access to young school leavers without the concomitant resource allocation has resulted in the inability of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) to continue to provide access to ‘non-traditional’ working adults in some of its programmes. The large classes for young undergraduates, the necessary foundation/support programmes to assist under-prepared school leavers, recent demands to increase postgraduate study output and to publish are related pressures influencing the decisions to limit undergraduate part-time studies for adult learners. To address this ‘dilemma’ an action research project was l...

Research paper thumbnail of Editorial – 2019: Omniscience of monitoring and evaluation

African Evaluation Journal, 2019

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) processes and results can illuminate; they can inform and they ca... more Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) processes and results can illuminate; they can inform and they can make sense of a complex contextual environment but they also have the potential to obfuscate, to complicate and/or to oversimplify complex situations and practices. According to advocates of the results-based management framework, all we need are clearly defined expected results, a delivery strategy, to make sure we measure and evaluate performance, to make adjustments where necessary and we will be able to improve conditions over time-or at least we will have evidence to suggest effectiveness and efficiency. The good news is that governments in Africa, businesses big and small as well as the general public are beginning to accept the need for M&E processes and results that can inform planning and sustainable development. There is also a synergetic relationship between M&E and good governance. M&E contributes to good governance by promoting accountability among other things, and good governance-a reflective and responsive process designed to serve the best interests of stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe-creates an enabling environment for M&E. Good governance also includes a culture of self-assessment, to learn from experience and to improve the outputs, outcomes and impacts of the policies and programmes being pursued. The pursuit of good governance, be this at the project, programme or policy level, is a collective ongoing challenge. The principles of good governance should inform the M&E approach and outcomes so that developmental policies and their implementation are not constrained by the political, social and economic environments but positively influenced instead. This edition showcases M&E practices across the African continent and beyond in various contexts. M&E is used in the economy, for governance, for development and, most importantly, for learning.

Research paper thumbnail of Erratum: Editorial: Measuring social impact investment

African Evaluation Journal, 2019

In addition, the following acknowledgement statement was omitted from the article published earli... more In addition, the following acknowledgement statement was omitted from the article published earlier. The statement is hereby updated and added: 'Genesis Analytics and Sibulele Walaza, the guest editor for this edition, coordinated a call for papers and called on the support of several individuals to assist the authors in preparing their papers. The following individuals assisted the authors of the Social Impact Investment papers: Zenda Ofir, Jane Reisman, Nicole Mertens, Yaquta Fatehi and Bianca Samson. We are grateful for their contribution'. This correction does not alter the significance or overall interpretation of the editorial. The editor apologises for any inconvenience caused.

Research paper thumbnail of A realist assessment of the implementation of blended learning in a South African higher education context

South African Journal of Higher Education, 2016

Opportunities for further studies by working adults came under threat as the University of the We... more Opportunities for further studies by working adults came under threat as the University of the Western Cape stopped the offering of after-hours classes in most of its Faculties. Unqualified and under-qualified librarians were directly affected by this decision. This article outlines an assessment of the conceptualisation and implementation of an action research project initiated by the Division for Lifelong learning. Using a realist evaluation approach, the assessment focuses on the implementation of strategies aimed at showing how lifelong learning opportunities, conceptualised and provided in flexible ways, could support innovation in learning and teaching in order to enhance access and success to learning by working people in the context of the Library and Information Science Department.

Research paper thumbnail of A participatory process toward a critical discourse: English second language teachers in South Africa

Participa tory Research as a r e s earc h met hodology a nd co ns iders short-term an d l ong-ten... more Participa tory Research as a r e s earc h met hodology a nd co ns iders short-term an d l ong-ten implica tions for furthe r r es e a r c h. Th i s t hesi s cOlltrlbul,;es to not i ons of participa tory research and to t h e ana lytical capacity of the participants. ill I need to thank in particular Clar Doyle and Susan Ahearn of Memorial Uni ve r si t y of Newfoundland for their ccaeents , critique , and encouragement while superv ising the study. By always making themselves available and i s s u i ng constructive criticism when I needed it, they eeee the task of completinq this study easier. During the i ni t i a l stages of the research, Dirk Meerkotter of the University of the Western Cape and Roger siDlon of the Ontar io Institute for Studies in Education offered valuable advice. without the participants in this study, Edgar, Phumla , Cecelia, Tony , Carl and Howard, this project would never neve been possible. Their commitment to a change in the educational arena i n South Africa if> to be commended. Host of all, t ha nks is due to Maureen Robinson, my friend, tv co lleag u e and co mrade. She was there from the beg inn ing t o the end, a l l a yi ng my f e a r s a nd doubts an d t r an slat i ng t h e m into posi tive t hc.. ...g hts and a cti on .

Research paper thumbnail of Theory-based evaluation of community development : a South African case study

Introduction and background Evaluation research is more than the application of methods. It is al... more Introduction and background Evaluation research is more than the application of methods. It is also a political and managerial activity, an input into the complex mosaic from which emerge policy decisions and allocations for the planning, design, implementation, and continuance of programs to better the human condition. (Rossi and Freeman, 1993, p. 15) Programme evaluation or evaluation research, as a distinct discipline and a field of study is relatively new in South Africa (Louw, 1998, Potter, 1999, Potter and Kruger, 2001). Its development in South Africa was stymied in part by the interdisciplinary nature of programme evaluation, trying to find roots within historically, a very discipline based higher education system. Programme evaluation practice in South Africa has, within this time-frame, a history of being conducted by academics and professionals trained in, among others, Psychology, Sociology, Education or Political Science. Another reason for the slow development of programme evaluation in South Africa as forwarded by De Vos (1998), is that of political engineering under apartheid rule. She maintains that during the 1980s the then Department of Health Services and Welfare initially reserved the benefits of a programmatical approach to development for the white population in South Africa. The white department, administering exclusively to a minority population group, first had to master the art of programme development and evaluation before the expertise could be passed on to the other departments. This paucity in evaluation studies of development programmes initiated by the government and non-government organisations (NGOs) is a concern that is slowly being addressed. Over the last decade, government agencies and NGOs, often using international donor funds for their own projects have been engaged in outsourcing evaluation studies and some departments, such as Land Affairs and Public Works, have

Research paper thumbnail of Accountability, autonomy, and authenticity: assessing the development waltz conducted to a ‘kwaito’ beat in Southern Africa

Development in Practice, 2008

For the purposes of accountability and uniformity, and as a way of giving insight into their inte... more For the purposes of accountability and uniformity, and as a way of giving insight into their intellectual capital regarding development practices, NGOs in Southern Africa are required by donor agencies to describe their intended activities in very clear, unambiguous terms. These requirements may include the expression of theoretical approaches, the development of logical frameworks, clear objectives, indicators for success, criteria for sustainable development, and relationships to government policies. However, the interface between reality and these planning measures and tools, most often completed without the input and contributions of the communities whom they are to serve/service, produces a much more messy, dynamic, and involved picture of the development process. None the less, the NGOs are still required to be accountable on the basis of their original proposal and planning. The author presents examples of this phenomenon and discusses the challenges facing an evaluator when dealing with competing principles of accountability, autonomy, and authenticity.

Research paper thumbnail of A review of the growth of monitoring and evaluation in South Africa: Monitoring and evaluation as a profession, an industry and a governance tool

African Evaluation Journal, 2015

South Africa is one several African countries with an official ministry responsible for monitorin... more South Africa is one several African countries with an official ministry responsible for monitoring and evaluation (M&E). Some of the other countries include Ghana, Kenya, Benin and Uganda. The development of M&E in South Africa has been stymied in part by its interdisciplinary nature, trying to find roots within historically a very discipline-based higher education system. Over the last ten years, however, there has been a huge increase in the number, scope and quality of evaluations conducted in this country. Government agencies and Non-government organisations (NGOs) often using international donor funds for their own projects, have been engaged in outsourcing evaluation studies, and currently all government departments have established their own M&E units. There are statutory bodies such as the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Department for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) with the responsibility to monitor and evaluate the government’s service delivery and perf...

Research paper thumbnail of Made in Africa Evaluation

African Evaluation Journal

The debate around Made in Africa Evaluation (MAE) is a timely one, which urges M&E professionals ... more The debate around Made in Africa Evaluation (MAE) is a timely one, which urges M&E professionals in Africa to reflect on their profession and their practices. It asks the question: what does it mean for evaluation to be rooted in the African context? It acknowledges the colonial and precolonial African history, the resulting governance systems, the inequalities, the gender concerns, the multiple worldviews informed by traditionalism and the conflicting norms, values and diverse cultural nuances of the African context. The debate further demands clarity about the theoretical foundations of MAE, how it should be defined and what it looks like in practice.

Research paper thumbnail of Erratum: The Seventh Biennial South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association Conference 2019: Shaping M for a sustainable future – Editorial

African Evaluation Journal, 2021

512, the name of the fifth author was given incorrectly. The correct name should be Volker Schöer... more 512, the name of the fifth author was given incorrectly. The correct name should be Volker Schöer instead of Volker Schoër in the 'Author' and 'How to cite this article' sections. This correction does not alter the study's findings of significance or overall interpretation of the study's results. The publisher apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Research paper thumbnail of 8th AfrEA International Conference edition editorial

African Evaluation Journal, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Special edition of African Evaluation Journal on the national evaluation system

African Evaluation Journal, 2015

Overview of the edition This edition is a significant marker-recognising the development and impl... more Overview of the edition This edition is a significant marker-recognising the development and implementation of a national evaluation system in South Africa. The system was established in 2011 and 50 evaluations have been completed, are underway or are starting, representing around 6−6-6−7 billion of government expenditure, as well as many elements of a comprehensive system at national and provincial levels. South Africa thus joins a few countries in the world that have national systems: Mexico and Colombia, which are well known and from whom we have learned, Canada, Chile, Peru and our peers who we are working with closely in Africa, Uganda and Benin. At the same time, a key text has been written on evaluation management in South Africa and Africa, which was launched in May 2015 and which we review in this edition (we refer to this as the Book), which gives a broader historical perspective, as well as more theoretical background to evaluation and practice on the African continent. This system has not emerged in a vacuum. The article by Abrahams outlines some of the history of the evolution of evaluation in South Africa from the early 1990s. He relates three trends that emerge from this-evaluation as an emerging profession, how evaluation has emerged as part of the governance role in the country and also how this has driven the development of evaluation as an industry, with an emerging set of companies and universities providing evaluation services. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) has been studied internationally since the 1960s, covered by Charlene Mouton et al., and by Goldman et al. in the Book, and driven since the 1980s by the emergence of the new public management approach with its focus on measurement. Mackay (2008) quotes in the Book: The performance orientation of the public management is here to stay. It is essential for successful government. Societies are now too complex to be managed only by rules for input and process and a publicspirited culture. The performance movement has formalized planning, reporting, and control across many governments. This has improved the information available to managers and policy makers. (p. 554

Research paper thumbnail of Editorial: Measuring social impact investment

African Evaluation Journal, 2018

In addition, the following acknowledgement statement was omitted from the article published earli... more In addition, the following acknowledgement statement was omitted from the article published earlier. The statement is hereby updated and added: 'Genesis Analytics and Sibulele Walaza, the guest editor for this edition, coordinated a call for papers and called on the support of several individuals to assist the authors in preparing their papers. The following individuals assisted the authors of the Social Impact Investment papers: Zenda Ofir, Jane Reisman, Nicole Mertens, Yaquta Fatehi and Bianca Samson. We are grateful for their contribution'. This correction does not alter the significance or overall interpretation of the editorial. The editor apologises for any inconvenience caused.