Professionalisation of Program Evaluation in Africa: An Imperative for Effectiveness and Accountability for Public Policy

Togbedji Maurice Agonnoude; Sègbegnon David Houeto; Gbenoukpo Sebastien Zannou; Maxime Agbo; Luc Behanzin; Corine Yessito Houehanou

doi:doi:10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16

Professionalisation of Program Evaluation in Africa: An Imperative for Effectiveness and Accountability for Public Policy

Togbedji Maurice Agonnoude, Sègbegnon David Houeto, Gbenoukpo Sebastien Zannou, Maxime Agbo, Luc Behanzin, Corine Yessito Houehanou

Published in Central African Journal of Public Health (Volume 7, Issue 4)

Received: 30 March 2021 Accepted: 26 April 2021 Published: 8 July 2021

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

Program evaluation is an applied science which importance for accountability, efficacy and effectiveness of public policies makes consensus among scientific researchers. So, in developed countries, especially North America’ ones, it is a professional domain with professional associations, standards of practices and development of tools nurturing and improving continuously practices. The goal of this paper is to show that in French speaking African countries, inexistence or bad functioning of a formal frame of exercise and development of the practice impede the evaluation findings to achieve maximum credibility and acceptance. In fact, in most African French-speaking countries like Benin, amateurism is standard gold. Program evaluation in this context is practiced by managers and technocratic civil servants for all sectors who, with their specific experience in their domain, think they were able to judge program in implementation. So, in these conditions of inexistence of formal training in evaluation and standards of practices, the evaluation practice is marked by defects like unrespect of evaluators ‘independence, the glaring conflict of interest, the low rate of evaluation findings utilization, and so one. This result is so evident in Benin because, we know the non-professionalization of a sensitive domain, like education in program evaluation, can lead to disastrous consequences. So, it is urgent that improving evaluation quality and credibility needs a setup of formal framework of practice with qualified trainings, continuous trainings and experiences sharing and to setup standards of practices. The contribution of the most developed program evaluation communities of North America especially those of Canada would bewelcome.

Published in	Central African Journal of Public Health (Volume 7, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16
Page(s)	189-192
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Evaluation, Professionalization, Public Policies, Effectiveness, Accountability

References

[1]	Champagne F, Contandriopoulos A-P, Brousselle A, et al. L’évaluation dans le domaine de la santé: concepts et méthodes. In: L’Évaluation: Concepts et méthodes. Montréal, Québec, Canada: PUM, 2009, pp. 35–56.
[2]	Abbot A. The system of professions: an essay on the division of expert labor. The University of Chicago Press. Chicago, 1988.
[3]	Bamberger M. The Evaluation of International Development Programs: A View from the Front. American Journal of Evaluation 2000; 21: 95–102.
[4]	Chaplowe S, Engo-Tjéga R. Civil Society Organizations and Evaluation: Lessons from Africa. Evaluation 2007; 2: 257–275.
[5]	Scriven M. The nature of evaluation. In: Hard-Won Lessons in Program Evaluation. Vancouver: Jossey-Bass publishers, 1993, pp. 5–48.
[6]	Chelimsky E. Integrating evaluation units into the political environment of government: The role of evaluation policy. New Directions for Evaluation 2009; 2009: 51–66.
[7]	Leviton LC. Presidential Address: Building Evaluation’s Collective Capacity. American Journal of Evaluation 2001; 22: 1–12.
[8]	Baradei LE, Abdelhamid D, Wally N. Institutionalising and streamlining development monitoring and evaluation in post-revolutionary Egypt: A readiness primer. African Evaluation Journal 2014; 2: 16.
[9]	Patel M. African Evaluation Guidelines. African Evaluation Journal 2013; 1: 5.
[10]	Rogers PJ. Review of ‘Evaluation management in South Africa and Africa’. African Evaluation Journal 2015; 3: 4.
[11]	Lomeña-Gelis M. Evaluation development in Senegal. African Evaluation Journal 2013; 1: 8.
[12]	Beyer JM, Trice HM. The Utilization Process: A Conceptual Framework and Synthesis of Empirical Findings. Administrative Science Quarterly 1982; 27: 591–622.
[13]	Stake B. How Far Dare an Evaluator Go Toward Saving the World? American Journal of Evaluation 2004; 25: 103–107.
[14]	Schwartz R, Mayne J. Assuring the quality of evaluative information: theory and practice. Evaluation and Program Planning 2005; 28: 1–14.
[15]	Love A, Russon C. Evaluation standards in an international context. New Directions for Evaluation 2004; 2004: 5–14.
[16]	Adams J, Dickinson P. Evaluation Training to Build Capability in the Community and Public Health Workforce. American Journal of Evaluation 2010; 31: 421–433.
[17]	Desharnais G. La professionnalisation: entre la protection du public et l’intérêt des professionnels. Maitrise en Droit, Université de Montréal, https://papyrus.bib.umontreal.ca/xmlui/handle/1866/2350 (2006, accessed 27 March 2021).

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Togbedji Maurice Agonnoude, Sègbegnon David Houeto, Gbenoukpo Sebastien Zannou, Maxime Agbo, Luc Behanzin, et al. (2021). Professionalisation of Program Evaluation in Africa: An Imperative for Effectiveness and Accountability for Public Policy. Central African Journal of Public Health, 7(4), 189-192. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Togbedji Maurice Agonnoude; Sègbegnon David Houeto; Gbenoukpo Sebastien Zannou; Maxime Agbo; Luc Behanzin, et al. Professionalisation of Program Evaluation in Africa: An Imperative for Effectiveness and Accountability for Public Policy. Cent. Afr. J. Public Health 2021, 7(4), 189-192. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Togbedji Maurice Agonnoude, Sègbegnon David Houeto, Gbenoukpo Sebastien Zannou, Maxime Agbo, Luc Behanzin, et al. Professionalisation of Program Evaluation in Africa: An Imperative for Effectiveness and Accountability for Public Policy. Cent Afr J Public Health. 2021;7(4):189-192. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16,
  author = {Togbedji Maurice Agonnoude and Sègbegnon David Houeto and Gbenoukpo Sebastien Zannou and Maxime Agbo and Luc Behanzin and Corine Yessito Houehanou},
  title = {Professionalisation of Program Evaluation in Africa: An Imperative for Effectiveness and Accountability for Public Policy},
  journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {7},
  number = {4},
  pages = {189-192},
  doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20210704.16},
  abstract = {Program evaluation is an applied science which importance for accountability, efficacy and effectiveness of public policies makes consensus among scientific researchers. So, in developed countries, especially North America’ ones, it is a professional domain with professional associations, standards of practices and development of tools nurturing and improving continuously practices. The goal of this paper is to show that in French speaking African countries, inexistence or bad functioning of a formal frame of exercise and development of the practice impede the evaluation findings to achieve maximum credibility and acceptance. In fact, in most African French-speaking countries like Benin, amateurism is standard gold. Program evaluation in this context is practiced by managers and technocratic civil servants for all sectors who, with their specific experience in their domain, think they were able to judge program in implementation. So, in these conditions of inexistence of formal training in evaluation and standards of practices, the evaluation practice is marked by defects like unrespect of evaluators ‘independence, the glaring conflict of interest, the low rate of evaluation findings utilization, and so one. This result is so evident in Benin because, we know the non-professionalization of a sensitive domain, like education in program evaluation, can lead to disastrous consequences. So, it is urgent that improving evaluation quality and credibility needs a setup of formal framework of practice with qualified trainings, continuous trainings and experiences sharing and to setup standards of practices. The contribution of the most developed program evaluation communities of North America especially those of Canada would bewelcome.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Professionalisation of Program Evaluation in Africa: An Imperative for Effectiveness and Accountability for Public Policy
AU  - Togbedji Maurice Agonnoude
AU  - Sègbegnon David Houeto
AU  - Gbenoukpo Sebastien Zannou
AU  - Maxime Agbo
AU  - Luc Behanzin
AU  - Corine Yessito Houehanou
Y1  - 2021/07/08
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16
T2  - Central African Journal of Public Health
JF  - Central African Journal of Public Health
JO  - Central African Journal of Public Health
SP  - 189
EP  - 192
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5781
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16
AB  - Program evaluation is an applied science which importance for accountability, efficacy and effectiveness of public policies makes consensus among scientific researchers. So, in developed countries, especially North America’ ones, it is a professional domain with professional associations, standards of practices and development of tools nurturing and improving continuously practices. The goal of this paper is to show that in French speaking African countries, inexistence or bad functioning of a formal frame of exercise and development of the practice impede the evaluation findings to achieve maximum credibility and acceptance. In fact, in most African French-speaking countries like Benin, amateurism is standard gold. Program evaluation in this context is practiced by managers and technocratic civil servants for all sectors who, with their specific experience in their domain, think they were able to judge program in implementation. So, in these conditions of inexistence of formal training in evaluation and standards of practices, the evaluation practice is marked by defects like unrespect of evaluators ‘independence, the glaring conflict of interest, the low rate of evaluation findings utilization, and so one. This result is so evident in Benin because, we know the non-professionalization of a sensitive domain, like education in program evaluation, can lead to disastrous consequences. So, it is urgent that improving evaluation quality and credibility needs a setup of formal framework of practice with qualified trainings, continuous trainings and experiences sharing and to setup standards of practices. The contribution of the most developed program evaluation communities of North America especially those of Canada would bewelcome.
VL  - 7
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Togbedji Maurice Agonnoude

National School of Public Health and Epidemiology (ENATSE), University of Parakou, Parakou, Benin Republic
Sègbegnon David Houeto

National School of Public Health and Epidemiology (ENATSE), University of Parakou, Parakou, Benin Republic
Gbenoukpo Sebastien Zannou

National School of Public Health and Epidemiology (ENATSE), University of Parakou, Parakou, Benin Republic
Maxime Agbo

National School of Statistics, Planification and Demography (ENSPD), University of Parakou, Parakou, Benin Republic
Luc Behanzin

National School of Public Health and Epidemiology (ENATSE), University of Parakou, Parakou, Benin Republic
Corine Yessito Houehanou

National School of Public Health and Epidemiology (ENATSE), University of Parakou, Parakou, Benin Republic

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Togbedji Maurice Agonnoude, Sègbegnon David Houeto, Gbenoukpo Sebastien Zannou, Maxime Agbo, Luc Behanzin, et al. (2021). Professionalisation of Program Evaluation in Africa: An Imperative for Effectiveness and Accountability for Public Policy. Central African Journal of Public Health, 7(4), 189-192. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Togbedji Maurice Agonnoude; Sègbegnon David Houeto; Gbenoukpo Sebastien Zannou; Maxime Agbo; Luc Behanzin, et al. Professionalisation of Program Evaluation in Africa: An Imperative for Effectiveness and Accountability for Public Policy. Cent. Afr. J. Public Health 2021, 7(4), 189-192. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Togbedji Maurice Agonnoude, Sègbegnon David Houeto, Gbenoukpo Sebastien Zannou, Maxime Agbo, Luc Behanzin, et al. Professionalisation of Program Evaluation in Africa: An Imperative for Effectiveness and Accountability for Public Policy. Cent Afr J Public Health. 2021;7(4):189-192. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16,
  author = {Togbedji Maurice Agonnoude and Sègbegnon David Houeto and Gbenoukpo Sebastien Zannou and Maxime Agbo and Luc Behanzin and Corine Yessito Houehanou},
  title = {Professionalisation of Program Evaluation in Africa: An Imperative for Effectiveness and Accountability for Public Policy},
  journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {7},
  number = {4},
  pages = {189-192},
  doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20210704.16},
  abstract = {Program evaluation is an applied science which importance for accountability, efficacy and effectiveness of public policies makes consensus among scientific researchers. So, in developed countries, especially North America’ ones, it is a professional domain with professional associations, standards of practices and development of tools nurturing and improving continuously practices. The goal of this paper is to show that in French speaking African countries, inexistence or bad functioning of a formal frame of exercise and development of the practice impede the evaluation findings to achieve maximum credibility and acceptance. In fact, in most African French-speaking countries like Benin, amateurism is standard gold. Program evaluation in this context is practiced by managers and technocratic civil servants for all sectors who, with their specific experience in their domain, think they were able to judge program in implementation. So, in these conditions of inexistence of formal training in evaluation and standards of practices, the evaluation practice is marked by defects like unrespect of evaluators ‘independence, the glaring conflict of interest, the low rate of evaluation findings utilization, and so one. This result is so evident in Benin because, we know the non-professionalization of a sensitive domain, like education in program evaluation, can lead to disastrous consequences. So, it is urgent that improving evaluation quality and credibility needs a setup of formal framework of practice with qualified trainings, continuous trainings and experiences sharing and to setup standards of practices. The contribution of the most developed program evaluation communities of North America especially those of Canada would bewelcome.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Professionalisation of Program Evaluation in Africa: An Imperative for Effectiveness and Accountability for Public Policy
AU  - Togbedji Maurice Agonnoude
AU  - Sègbegnon David Houeto
AU  - Gbenoukpo Sebastien Zannou
AU  - Maxime Agbo
AU  - Luc Behanzin
AU  - Corine Yessito Houehanou
Y1  - 2021/07/08
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16
T2  - Central African Journal of Public Health
JF  - Central African Journal of Public Health
JO  - Central African Journal of Public Health
SP  - 189
EP  - 192
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5781
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210704.16
AB  - Program evaluation is an applied science which importance for accountability, efficacy and effectiveness of public policies makes consensus among scientific researchers. So, in developed countries, especially North America’ ones, it is a professional domain with professional associations, standards of practices and development of tools nurturing and improving continuously practices. The goal of this paper is to show that in French speaking African countries, inexistence or bad functioning of a formal frame of exercise and development of the practice impede the evaluation findings to achieve maximum credibility and acceptance. In fact, in most African French-speaking countries like Benin, amateurism is standard gold. Program evaluation in this context is practiced by managers and technocratic civil servants for all sectors who, with their specific experience in their domain, think they were able to judge program in implementation. So, in these conditions of inexistence of formal training in evaluation and standards of practices, the evaluation practice is marked by defects like unrespect of evaluators ‘independence, the glaring conflict of interest, the low rate of evaluation findings utilization, and so one. This result is so evident in Benin because, we know the non-professionalization of a sensitive domain, like education in program evaluation, can lead to disastrous consequences. So, it is urgent that improving evaluation quality and credibility needs a setup of formal framework of practice with qualified trainings, continuous trainings and experiences sharing and to setup standards of practices. The contribution of the most developed program evaluation communities of North America especially those of Canada would bewelcome.
VL  - 7
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download