A “culture of evaluation” is often lauded as a key solution to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of governments, development organisations and international financial institutions alike. The extant literature suggests that for results, performance management, evaluation and research functions to be effective, organizations and institutions need a strong culture of evaluation – one where evidence is deliberately sought in order to better design, implement and deliver interventions. This evaluation culture is premised on a drive for continuous improvement that pervades all aspects of work, and a willingness to learn from failures as well as successes.
This edition focuses on new thinking and strategies on the why, what, and how of promoting a culture of evaluation. It draws on a wide variety of case studies from various institutions and African countries to explain why an evaluation culture is important, what it should look like and which tools, systems and processes are important for institutions and governments to promote it. Finally, it also suggests new avenues to widen and deepen the evaluation culture in Africa.
