CLEAR-AA Reignites Support for Tanzania Through Two-day Workshop on National Evaluation Systems

CLEAR-AA Reignites Support for Tanzania Through Two-day Workshop on National Evaluation Systems
CLEAR-AA joined a two-day monitoring and evaluation (M&E) retreat convened by the Prime Minister's Office of Tanzania, through the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME). 
news
01 February 2023

Staff from the Center for Learning on Evaluation and Results for Anglophone Africa (CLEAR-AA), a GEI Implementing Partner, joined a two-day monitoring and evaluation (M&E) retreat convened by the Prime Minister's Office of Tanzania, through the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME).  Dr. Steven Masvaure and Ms. Sinenhlanhla Tsekiso represented CLEAR-AA at the retreat held in Dodoma, Tanzania, January 19-20, 2023, reigniting work with Tanzania that had paused due to the COVID pandemic.

The retreat brought together more than 60 attendees, including the Permanent Secretary and the Minister for Policy, Coordination and Parliamentary Affairs under the Tanzanian Prime Minister’s Office.  The event’s purpose was to train Tanzanian public sector officials on the functions and expected goals for the newly established DPME.

As part of the retreat, CLEAR-AA made a presentation on government-wide M&E strategies, principles, and challenges, drawing reference to practical experiences from South Africa as a case study. The presentation described the road that South Africa traveled to strengthen its national monitoring and evaluation system.   

The CLEAR-AA team also presented recommendations for Tanzania, based on a Monitoring and Evaluation Systems Analysis (MESA) and Monitoring and Evaluation Capacity Strengthening Strategy and Plan that were co-created by CLEAR-AA and the Government of Tanzania in 2021.

During a meeting with the Permanent Secretary and DPME officials prior to the retreat, it was concluded that a national M&E policy with a related implementation strategy, along with capacity building initiatives, are a priority for the government. The proposed national policy seeks to influence a culture of evidence-based decision-making and institutionalize and systematize the practice of monitoring, evaluation and evidence use in the Tanzanian public sector.

CLEAR-AA will work with DPME to leverage the momentum built during the retreat in Dodoma and ensure the priorities highlighted are taken into action in the first quarter of 2023.