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Impact evaluation with explicit reference to RBA S.P.PAL. Presentation. Explore: Can we increase effective demand for evaluation through reference to RBA Framework in evaluation results?
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Presentation • Explore: Can we increase effective demand for evaluation through reference to RBA Framework in evaluation results? • India spends large sums on evaluation each year. But, no effective demand & inadequate follow-up on even good evaluation. • What is RBA? SPP
Features of RBA 1. Normative framework for design and implementation of policies & programs-ENTAP.2.Legal & institutional basis for respecting, protecting & fulfilling rights. 3. Process of realising RB goals through prioritization, participation in a time bound manner. SPP
RBA Framework & duty bearers • RBA makes the duty bearers responsible and accountable for realisation of HR. • The primary responsibility,however, is with the national govt. to design and implement policies, enact laws, create institutions for respecting, protecting and fulfilling HR. This means: SPP
Duty bearers- respect, protect & fulfill rights • Frame & implement policies/programs. • Allocation of adequate resources. • Putting in place an appropriate delivery mechanism. • Ensure people’s participation. • Transparency and accountability in development administration. SPP
Duty bearers-respect, protect & fulfill (contd.) • Legal and institutional arrangement to empower poor. • Phasing & sequencing implementationfor progressive realization of rights in a time bound manner. • Putting in place an M&E system to track outcome, impact & move towards MDGs. • Are duty bearers doing duty? Let us see. SPP
Design of policies & RBA-relevant questions • Are there anti-poverty policies? • Are anti-poverty policies targeted to the disadvantaged groups (E,N)? • Is policy making process participatory(P)? • Analysis of development strategy and survey of evaluation reports suggest: SPP
Anti-poverty Policies formulated • Policy making process seems to follow development thinking-from growth & general provisions of social services to more and more targeted policies to rights based policies. All anti poverty programs-employment/income, PDS, health, education-became specifically targeted to disadvantaged groups/areas from late 1970s. • Of late, NREGA, RTI, RTE in RBA Framework alongside general programs to improve infrastructure and access. SPP
Policy making is participatory(?) • Participatory? Representatives of poor participate in planning and policy making process. With 73rd/74th Constitution Amendment there is provision for participation in local level planning & implementation too. • But, does it happen? Is participation meaningful? SPP
Are policies implemented effectively? • Anti-poverty program formulation-first step:-identify attributes of poverty;-identify population groups having these attributes. • Lack of clarity & saddled with significant targeting errors- loss of welfare, wastage& leakage of allocated resources; • Debate more academic; not problem solving oriented. SPP
Evaluation of anti-poverty programs -Resource allocation & delivery mechanism • Too many programs in an area of social concern-employment, education; • Thin spread of resources; redundant administration; • Inappropriate delivery mechanism; • Leading to: -high cost of delivery; -low benefits. • Of late, convergence of fragmented programs being attempted. SPP
Implementation & Duty bearers • Lack of a scientific approach in program formulation-repetition of past mistakes; • Uncertainty in flow of funds; consequent inadequate planning at grassroots and sub-optimal outcome; • Finance rules too stringent-emphasis on compliance, not outcomes; reforms • Too much involvement of bureaucracy in development administration, but it is not adequately trained to handle. SPP
Implementation & Duty bearers(contd.) • Absence of transparency & accountability in spite of RTI(2005); internal/upwards not to people; • People’s institutions (PRIs) constitutionally empowered, but not given resources, freedom & importance in planning and implementation-made dependent on govt. agencies. SPP
Implementation & Duty bearers(contd.) • M&E system- not manned by trained staff;- engaged in routine data collection, mainly on financial flows, activities and in some cases outputs; no mechanism to verify veracity of data;- data gathered not so much for problem solving, but for watchdog agencies; - long delay in availability of M&E info to be of any use. SPP
Summing up • Motivation: Follow up action on evaluation findings; no incentive/compulsion to act on findings; • We propose, actors be identified and brought to account by fixing responsibility through reference to RBA. • In India, evaluators alone can do little to change the situation; SPP
Summing up • By referring to RBA evaluators can draw attention of not only policy makers and planners, but also a number of other stakeholders (PUCL,PIL) and widen the base to pressure duty bearers to act, reform institutions for development effectiveness. • However, evaluators too have to improve quality of their product, set standards for themselves. Capacity development in both public & private sectors. SPP