Monitoring and evaluation in the public sector: a case of the Department of Home Affairs (South Africa)

• Pages: 7-26
• Date: 01 December 2021
• Published date: 01 December 2021
• Author: Masilo Mmacheneke Masilo,Tyanai Masiya,Ntwanano Erasmus Mathebula
• Subject Matter: Derecho Público y Administrativo

European Journal of Economics, Law and Social Sciences

IIPCCL Publishing, Graz-Austria

Special Issue

December, 2021

ISSN 2519-1284

Acces online at www.iipccl.org

7

Monitoring and evaluation in the public sector: a case of the Department of

Home Aairs (South Africa)

Masilo Mmacheneke Masilo & Tyanai Masiya

University of Pretoria

Ntwanano Erasmus Mathebula

University of Venda

Abstract

The unprecedented economic, political, social and technological challenges around the world

is forcing governments to think dierently and adopt new approaches and reforms to enhance

the performance of the public service. The performance of the South African public sector

has been hindered by a number of challenges over the last two decades. In response to these

challenges the government introduced a Government-Wide Monitoring and Evaluation

Framework which provided guidelines on how Departments should carry out Monitoring

and Evaluation functions. The introduction of the Policy Framework for the GWM&E System

is part of the public service reform and the approach towards increasing the Government’s

eectiveness, by puing more emphasis on M&E. This research analyses the inuence of the

M&E Framework on service delivery within the Department of Home Aairs in South Africa.

The study utilised a qualitative research approach, comprising interviews and documentary

evidence. The study found that the M&E framework is a critical tool that brings performance

processes together for the enhancement of service delivery. The article concluded that

implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework by the Public Sector should

be geared towards improvements of service delivery, for the benef‌it of citizens. As a result,

it recommended that government departments such as the Department of Home Aairs

should strengthen the support services within the Monitoring and Evaluation teams and also

expand the structure to all levels within their departments. Advocacy and Communication

Plans should be in place and should be used as tools to overcome misconceptions or lack of

information about M&E; Plans should also be put in place to monitor utilisation of performance

information as this is key in ensuring evidence-based development of policies, planning and

decision making.

Introduction

In South Africa, signif‌icant growth in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) has been

observed in the public sector since 2004, when the need for M&E in strengthening

governance was f‌irst raised as a priority for the country in the State of the Nation

Address by then President Thabo Mbeki. Since then, various legislative and policy

mandates have been def‌ined in order to set the parameters for the implementation of

M&E throughout the country.

Literature shows that M&E is considered a key feature of public service delivery

as it assists government to ensure good “governance, accountability, transparency,

eectiveness and delivery of tangible results”, as well as to respond to the needs and

demands of all its service delivery benef‌iciaries, (Kuset and Rist, 2004: xi). A study

Special Issue

December, 2021

European Journal of Economics, Law and Social Sciences

IIPCCL Publishing, Graz-Austria

ISSN 2519-1284

Acces online at www.iipccl.org

8

conducted by Okello (2014:1736) found that eective service delivery is dependent on

the manner in which the “objectives, indicators, inputs, outputs, outcomes, impact and

implementation strategies” are structured. This permits the collection of quality data

that would serve as input towards the development of policies and implementation

of projects. Hence the need for a M&E framework. According to Ntoyanto (2016:14),

by monitoring and evaluating policies, programmes and projects, service delivery

can be ensured. Also, by practicing M&E, funds can be eectively utilised and this

could also result in improved performance, more accountability and beer and

informed decision-making across all spheres of government. This study corroborates

with the above studies and highlights that the M&E framework should be considered

a critical tool that brings performance processes together for the enhancement of

service delivery.

This study, serves as input not only to the academic body of knowledge but also in

enhancing the general understanding of the role and importance of M&E in promoting

service delivery in the public sector using the case study of the Department of Home

Aairs and the impact this has on eective and ecient delivery of public services.

Furthermore, the study will assist the Department in fostering a culture that values

the role of M&E. Research on the implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation is

still limited in South Africa. This will help in identifying new policy areas and those

that need improvements for eective implementation. There is a growing need for

more research and contribution on the implementation of government reforms and

how these are inuencing service delivery, which is still a huge challenge in South

Africa. To respond to this, the following research questions were used in this study:

• What is the relationship between monitoring and evaluation and performance of

the Department of Home Aairs?

• What eect does the DHA Monitoring and Evaluation Framework have in

promoting service delivery?

• What are the challenges and opportunities for improving M&E practice at the

DHA?

• What can be done to improve the eciency of the DHA M & E framework?

The remaining structure of this study is as follows: The following section explores

the methodology of the study; followed by the theoretical overview / Framework;

research methodology that underpins the study; presentation and discussion of

f‌indings and a conclusion.

Design and Methodology

The study used the qualitative research approach. A qualitative research technique

is aimed at producing in-depth information in order to describe and understand a

problem that is under study by soliciting views and perceptions from a small group

of people (Queiros, Faria and Almeida, 2017:370). Furthermore, by adopting the

qualitative method of research, the researcher was able to solicit inputs which assisted

in creating an understanding of the topic under study through the experiences of

identif‌ied ocials within the Department of Home Aairs who are actively involved

in decision making and M&E activities.

The research design consisted of semi-structured interviews. This method of data