An exploratory study of the institutionalisation of a monitoring and evaluation system in the case of the intellectual disability programme of the Western Cape Department of Health

[摘要] ENGLISH SUMMARY : Monitoring and evaluation are crucial for government departments in South Africa; this willensure accountability, effectiveness, efficiency and evidence-based practices. In addition, it willhold accountable those responsible for policy, project and programme implementation. Thegovernment-wide monitoring and evaluation (GWM&E) system was established to create amore effective government by making M&E the driving force of improved performance. Thestudy identified monitoring and evaluation of the intellectual disability programme as an underresearchedarea. The research is focused on the intellectual disability programme and not on theinstitution's other programmes.The research study explored the factors that are essential for the effective institutionalisation ofa monitoring and evaluation system in the intellectual disability programme. The study exploredthe literature on the monitoring and evaluation system, and the institutionalisation of the M&Esystem within the intellectual disability programme. The study commences with an overviewof monitoring and evaluation; it explores the institutionalisation of an M&E system, programmemanagement and implementation. The legislative and policy framework influencing M&Ewithin the Western Cape Health Department was explored, including international legislativeframeworks affecting the institutionalisation of M&E.A qualitative design was selected for the case study. An institution of the Western Cape HealthDepartment was used as the case study; purposive sampling was used; documents wereanalysed to support data collected. Semi-structured interviews with a research schedule wasused to conduct the fieldwork. The data were divided into themes for the data-analysis process;the themes identified were institutionalisation of M&E systems; building process of an M&Esystem; monitoring framework and indicators; evaluation; and lastly, programme managementand implementation.The study found: M&E practices are present within the ID programme, but it lacked wellstructuredM&E guidelines and principles; the value systems are in place, but there were noM&E-focused guidelines and SOP's; leadership and management structures are well developed but lack an M&E champion and practices; the absence of technical M&E capacity was noted; there was no M&E capacity building and training;. The study found there was no M&E unit at the WCHD institution; the quality assurance unit is recognised as the unit performing M&E functions; however, the research established that M&E system principles are not present.The following recommendations are made based on the research findings: build M&E capacity and training; strengthen and develop M&E processes; make use of M&E practices, principles and standards; align M&E function with the mainstream function; develop a monitoring framework using existing indicators and baseline data; adopt logic framework model; make use of the programme management and implementation protocol to promote an effective and efficient implementation process.The study concluded that the adoption of an M&E system can promote evidence-based practices that can influence programme decisions and evidence-based budget allocations.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University