THE Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC) has successfully finalized the reports on the results of the Monitoring and Evaluation Systems Analysis (MESA) diagnostic study and a connected draft National Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Systems Strengthening Strategy.
Ms. Susan Sulu, the Permanent Secretary of MNPDC, highlighted key findings from the MESA study, noting that while a system and architecture exist across government ministries and agencies, certain deficiencies have been identified. These include challenges in creating an enabling environment for efficient monitoring and evaluation, coupled with capacity limitations.
Ms. Sulu emphasized that the Ministry has devised a strategic plan to address the identified deficiencies.
“As we move forward in 2024, our goal is to implement the MESA recommendations through the system strengthening strategy for monitoring and evaluation,” stated Ms. Sulu. She underscored the importance of the MESA study, emphasizing its role in enhancing the planning and budgeting functions within the government.
“The relationship between monitoring and evaluation and the planning and budgeting functions is integral. It provides evidence and a solid foundation to inform planning, resource allocation, budgeting, policy development, and decision-making,” explained Ms. Sulu. “M&E play a vital role in completing the full cycle of planning, budgeting, resourcing or finance and implementation. M&E and the ecosystem that enables effective M&E to take place provide us with sound evidence to inform these critical processes.”
The MESA study aims to understand the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) enabling environment, systems and practices, organizational and individual capacities. It also aims to identify gaps and opportunities – what is working well, what is not working well, and the priority areas for improvement and adopting evidence-based policy making.
Honiara based research consulting firm, Dignity Pasifik in partnership with an Australia based consulting firm, Alinea International assisted MNPDC to conduct the MESA diagnostics study on the ground last year. This was made possible through funding support from the World Bank and the Global Evaluation Initiative (GEI).
The Ministry sincerely appreciates GEI and Dignity Pasifik for their strategic and technical input in the development of the Solomon Islands National Monitoring and Evaluation Systems Strengthening Strategy.
MNPDC also acknowledges the support from the Pacific Community (SPC) for providing peer review and infographics on the MESA diagnostic report and the M&E Systems Strengthening Strategy.
The official launch of these comprehensive reports is expected for March this year.
