The Effectiveness of Participatory Governance in Budgetary Monitoring and Evaluation in an Information Age: A Case of Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality

Abstract

Deepening participatory governance in budgetary monitoring and evaluation is critical to ensuring that local residents' rights to meaningful engagement in municipal governance are realised. It symbolises a paradigm shift in the relationship between municipalities and local residents, particularly in terms of promoting transparency and accountability in the use of municipal financial resources to achieve positive service delivery outcomes. However, proffering opportunities for residents to meaningfully engage in budgetary monitoring and evaluation processes is often met with mixed reactions within municipalities’ governance structures. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of participatory governance in budgetary monitoring and evaluation in the information age in the case of Fetakgomo-Tubatse local municipality. The objectives were to assess participants' understanding of the importance of participatory governance implementation in budgetary monitoring and evaluation, the scope and purpose of the implementation process, associated benefits and barriers, the efficacy of information dissemination and accessibility relating to the outcomes and impact of the process, and the degree of ICTs use towards enhancing timely dissemination and accessibility of the information. The study used a mixed method case study research design. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews and a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire were used to collect primary research data from a purposive and snowball sample of municipal officials (N=8) and ward committee members (N=10). The data was analysed using a seven-stage mixed method data analysis framework developed by Onwuegbuzie and Teddlie (2003). The paper provides the main findings that led to the conclusion that participatory governance in budgetary monitoring and evaluation is implemented ineffectively in the Fetakgomo-Tubatse local municipality; recommendations on how to strengthen its effectiveness and avenues for future research are provided.