Thanks for highlighting the critical need to focus on capacity building for various stakeholders i.e. towards more participatory and effective evaluation.
Currently, the Evaluation Society of Kenya (ESK) jointly with government (at national and county levels) with the World Bank's funding support are undertaking a pilot project in 2 of Kenya's Counties.
Notably, under the EvalSDGs/EvalVision (2016-2020) for promoting the evaluation of the SDGs and their alignment to our country's Vision 2030, Devolution and "Big Four" agenda [Food and Nutrition, Universal Health Coverage, Affordable Housing and Manufacturing].
The devolved level is the center of development execution in our country.
The initial focus is on the water and health sectors. The activities are advocacy, trainings and rapid evaluations for related projects in each sector.
The project puts special focus in strengthening the capacities of the various stakeholders. I mean towards their effective participation in the rapid evaluations and utilization of the findings for more evidence-based investment choices and service delivery.
So far, successful advocacy events towards buy-in/ ownership and more evaluation awareness (and which has been left behind in our country vis-à-vis monitoring) have been held.
These have been completed for one of the counties.
They have targeted various categories of stakeholders i.e. each with a different targeted messaging as follows:
High political and executive leadership (governor/MPs, senator and cabinet secretaries at that level).
Members of the County Assembly (MCAs - they are the equivalent of MPs at the national level with oversight, budgetary and citizenry representation roles). Their buy-in just like the above category is deemed very critical towards the inculcation of a national culture and practice for evaluation (and which is currently weak).
Technical teams including directors, chief officers, planning and M&E officers.
More stakeholder participation will be effected during the rapid evaluations including for the public and beneficiaries. The findings will also inform the earmarked trainings that will be customized, accordingly.
It is expected that this will be replicated to the other 47 counties as we go along and across all sectors, in due course.
RE: What can evaluations do in terms of capacity development?
Dear Luisa and Lavina,
Thanks for highlighting the critical need to focus on capacity building for various stakeholders i.e. towards more participatory and effective evaluation.
Currently, the Evaluation Society of Kenya (ESK) jointly with government (at national and county levels) with the World Bank's funding support are undertaking a pilot project in 2 of Kenya's Counties.
Notably, under the EvalSDGs/EvalVision (2016-2020) for promoting the evaluation of the SDGs and their alignment to our country's Vision 2030, Devolution and "Big Four" agenda [Food and Nutrition, Universal Health Coverage, Affordable Housing and Manufacturing].
The devolved level is the center of development execution in our country.
The initial focus is on the water and health sectors. The activities are advocacy, trainings and rapid evaluations for related projects in each sector.
The project puts special focus in strengthening the capacities of the various stakeholders. I mean towards their effective participation in the rapid evaluations and utilization of the findings for more evidence-based investment choices and service delivery.
So far, successful advocacy events towards buy-in/ ownership and more evaluation awareness (and which has been left behind in our country vis-à-vis monitoring) have been held.
These have been completed for one of the counties.
They have targeted various categories of stakeholders i.e. each with a different targeted messaging as follows:
More stakeholder participation will be effected during the rapid evaluations including for the public and beneficiaries. The findings will also inform the earmarked trainings that will be customized, accordingly.
It is expected that this will be replicated to the other 47 counties as we go along and across all sectors, in due course.
NB: See more by scrolling down these links:
https://mobile.twitter.com/esk_kenya
https://m.facebook.com/EvalSocietyKE/
Kind Regards,
Jennifer
Evaluation Society of Kenya