Rhetoric and Reality of Result-based Monitoring and Evaluation in Tanzania: An Experience from the Public Sector

Abstract

As part of efforts to make its plans and development interventions more responsive to poverty alleviation and economic growth, Tanzania has in the last ten years adopted result-based monitoring and evaluation (RBME). This paper assesses the status of RBME practices in Tanzania. Specifically, it assesses the forces that triggered the adoption of result-based evaluation practices in the public sector, while noting key factors constraining the implementation of RBME in the country. Data were collected through a rigorous review of literature with particular focus on papers, documents and reports about resultbased management, result-based monitoring and evaluation, and the theory of change. These were complemented with input from key informants, including monitoring and evaluation officials within the public sector, NGOs and the business sector. Data analysis followed the traditional qualitative inductive approach, which categorizes and discusses information based on thematic areas as they emerge from the study results. Obtained results suggest that the adoption of RBME within the public sector is limited by low result-based culture among government officials. There is also inadequate capacity to implement different forms of M&E at the different levels of the government system, poor coherence, and incomprehensive guidelines of M&E in the public sector. The paper concludes and recommends that, to improve the RBME practices in the country, the government, in collaboration with other stakeholders, should cultivate and promote a result-based and accountability culture by making M&E an integral part of the entire government functioning; and institutionalizing and professionalizing the M&E sector by establishing independent M&E units with clear reporting mechanisms, mandates and capacity to execute plans.