On Friday 12th March, 2021, the Vice President of Sierra Leone Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has emphasized the relevance of result-based monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of service delivery in government institutions. “The key to effective delivery system is to build a performance feedback system” The Honourable Vice President stated. He further described the dialogue as an opportunity to realize the importance of result-based monitoring and evaluation, and assess its impact on policies and programmes. The Vice President made the statement while addressing a meeting on “High Level Dialogue on Government’s Monitoring and Evaluation System” at the Wizzard Hotel in Bo.
He further informed the audience about the dramatic shift in the monitoring and evaluation process, from process evaluation to result-based evaluation. He referred to result-based monitoring as key to monitor the outcome of the Threshold Programme. Dr. Jalloh explained that the forty-four million United States Dollars Sierra Leone received from the United States Government through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) was meant to undertake Threshold Programme that focused on the water and energy sectors. He therefore emphasized the need to strengthen individual ministries that are linked to certain indicators, to help them build monitoring and evaluation capacity that generates and manages data. The success of the Threshold Programme was driven by a rigid result-based monitoring.
Vice President Jalloh said that the Government of Sierra Leone is working to improve on the performance of the score card. He noted that in 2018, there were difficulties to generate data and transfer the data in a timely manner to the MCC headquarters, but in 2019 those difficulties were improved on enabling Sierra Leone to pass the Scorecard including the control of corruption; even though the country was not eligible for the Compact. He maintained that Sierra Leone became eligible for the Compact in 2020, because the MCC was impressed with the improvement in the performance indicators.
Vice President Jalloh encouraged all ministers to demonstrate commitment, and improve performance in the indicators in order to maintain the compact. He informed participants about the “Compact Development Process” through the National Coordinator of the Millennium Challenge Coordinating Office (MCCO) in Sierra Leone.
He further explained that a key lesson they learnt during a Sierra Leone Delegation’s study tour to Senegal was the importance of monitoring and evaluation in the Compact Programme. He called on all stakeholders to see the need and build a robust and integrated result-based monitoring and evaluation into the entire Compact circle. “Result-based monitoring will continue to guide the Millennium Challenge Corporation work, and the implementation of the Medium Term National Development Plan” he concluded.
Dr. Francis Kaikai, Minister of Planning and Economic Development informed the attendees about the collaboration between his ministry and other stakeholders to embark on review of the Mid Term National Development Plan result framework. Dr. Kaikai referred to monitoring and evaluation as central to the realization of the Medium Term National Development Plan, he therefore informed the audience about plans to find ways for an effective and efficient utilization of resources in all ministries. Accountability functions Dr. Kaikai maintains, remains a challenge, where the concept for reporting and analyzing are not yet developed.
The Director General of the National Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate (NaMED) Dr. James Edwin stated that the purpose for establishing the Directorate is to see that all government and donor funds received by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are well spent to achieve the desired results. Dr. Edwin further explained that the meeting provided the platform to promote the use of M&E, generate evidence, and use the evidence in management decision-making.
Dr. Edwin informed the audience about plans to monitor every single project in the national budget, prepare annual progress reports, and conduct mid-term and end-term evaluations on the implementation of the prevailing Government Agenda. He said that embracing monitoring practice will enable MDAs to demonstrate the results of their interventions, thus enhancing accountability to their stakeholders in particular. A presentation on MCC Scorecard and Compact Development and Government Strategy to improve performance and discussion was done by the Chief Executive Officer and Country Coordinator of MCCO Ndeye Koroma.
By: Aaron Bundu Lahai-Head of Media & Public Relations
18/03/2021. ISSUE NO: 8023