The role of monitoring and evaluation in implementing South Africa’s NDP 2030: A conceptual and documentary review

Abstract

South Africa has faced socio-economic challenges in the past, worsened by the apartheid government. The country experienced poverty, unemployment, and inequality primarily for Black Africans. To address ongoing issues of poverty, unemployment, and inequality, the National Development Plan 2030 has been created and is currently being implemented, and for effective implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation are crucial. Therefore, this study aims to explore the role of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) in the implementation of the South African National Development Plan 2030, guided by Results-Based Management (RBM), supported by the Theory of Change (ToC). This study adopts a qualitative, desktop research design, using a conceptual and documentary review approach. The study relies on secondary data, utilizing document analysis to collect information from various sources, including policies and journals. Data is then examined thematically. The findings reveal that challenges include misalignment of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) practices, limited data, capacity constraints, and low stakeholder engagement. The study suggests enhancing capacity-building, improving data systems, and aligning M&E frameworks with NDP to enhance evaluation effectiveness and promote sustainable development. The study contributes to ongoing discussions on public sector reform and development planning in South Africa. Accurate and timely data, aligned with performance indicators, is crucial for successful NDP implementation, enabling informed decision-making, progress tracking, and meaningful change.