Abstract
The premise of this paper is to canvass for the inclusion of stakeholders in participating in the Government Wide Monitoring and Evaluation (GWM&E) using the participatory monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) approach. The focus is mainly on the practicality of using participatory methods as part of the agenda to cascade the implement the M&E into different stake-holders using various methods in South Africa. A variety of public participation methods should be recognised to benchmark for the inclusion of stakeholders at the local level in the evaluation and monitoring of public programmes and projects in order to allow more space for civil society engagement in development policies and social accountability. Participation is increasingly recognised by countries as an integral part of M&E process while it offers environment for civic participation in a more inclusive and responsive approach towards service delivery and budget allocation in South Africa. Using a qualitative approach, conclusions and recommendations from this study contribute towards monitoring and evaluation of policies, programmes and projects in the field of Public Management. This study intends to address the paucity of literature on Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation in South Africa.
Highlights
There is a growing concern that monitoring and evaluation should be participatory in South Africa with more opportunities to promote development and accountability
Different stake-holders are critically scrutinised the role of the state in service delivery, with some reservations on failure to include all participants in the Government Wide Monitoring and Evaluation (GWME) agenda
This paper argues that public participation methods can be strategically integrated to make the GWME to be accepted nation-wide by a variety of stakeholders in South Africa using a number of theoretical and empirical evaluation criteria that are essential for effective participation
Summary
There is a growing concern that monitoring and evaluation should be participatory in South Africa with more opportunities to promote development and accountability. This paper suggest that the synergy in the practice of monitoring and evaluation at local level and public participation can assist in addressing gaps from resource allocation and service delivery in South Africa. Trend setters in different countries made progress in implementing Participatory Monitoring and evaluation approaches, lessons have to be learnt to adopt the best practices that can offer innovative ideas for tracking service delivery and learn from change that is brought up by the participants. This paper presents a literature reviewed on experiences in participatory monitoring and evaluation from global and regional perspectives, differing in the context and in potential use and methods of participation by various stakeholders. Conventional approach to M&E offers new innovative ways of assessing and learning from change It has involves experts like consultants from outside in order to measure performance against pre-set indicators, using the standards procedures and tools. This paper argues that the GWME should cascade in to lower levels of the communities and grass-roots interest and action groups using the principles of PM&E
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
