Challenges in Measuring Governance Impact The Experience of ENCISS Prepared and presented by

Semiramis Intercontinental Hotel - Cairo, Egypt

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Challenges in Measuring Challenges in Measuring Governance ImpactGovernance Impact

The Experience of ENCISSThe Experience of ENCISSPrepared and presented byPrepared and presented by

PATRICK E. ROBIN – Main PATRICK E. ROBIN – Main AuthorAuthor

Ahmed Ag Aboubacrine and Ahmed Ag Aboubacrine and Andrew Lavali – Co Authors Andrew Lavali – Co Authors


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This short paper has been This short paper has been divided into three parts.divided into three parts.

Country ContextCountry Context

Review of relevant Review of relevant literartureliterarture

Challenges in Measuring Challenges in Measuring Governance Impact: Case of Governance Impact: Case of ENCISSENCISS


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Country BackgroundCountry Background

Gained independence in 1961Gained independence in 1961

Huge deposits of mineralsHuge deposits of minerals

A vibrant agricultural sectorA vibrant agricultural sector

Referred to as Athens of West AfricaReferred to as Athens of West Africa

Post-independence history marred Post-independence history marred with frustrating absurdity – undermined with frustrating absurdity – undermined this great potential for national this great potential for national developmentdevelopment


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Some StatisticsSome Statistics

Population stands at approx. 5mPopulation stands at approx. 5m

57% live on less than 1 US/day57% live on less than 1 US/day

26% live in extreme poverty26% live in extreme poverty

Over 70% of women and 50% of men Over 70% of women and 50% of men are illiterate are illiterate

Average life expectancy is 42yrs Average life expectancy is 42yrs

A qtr of children die before they reach A qtr of children die before they reach age 5 & mothers have a one in six age 5 & mothers have a one in six chance of dying at child birthchance of dying at child birth


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Political ArenaPolitical Arena After attainment of sovereignty – enjoyed brief multi-party democracy. The decline started.

Coup d’etat after 1967 general elections

One party political dictatorship interspersed with military interregnum

One party rule characterized by neglect of social needs, economic mismanagement and bad governance

Resulting malaise is the rebel uprising in 1991 and the initial popularity of the 1992 coup d’etat


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Challenge for Sierra LeoneChallenge for Sierra Leone Is to move towards sustainable Is to move towards sustainable peace and development. Thanks to peace and development. Thanks to development partners for a development partners for a substantial investment in SL.substantial investment in SL.

For the above to happen better For the above to happen better democratic governance on the part of democratic governance on the part of SL leadership must previal, thereby SL leadership must previal, thereby encouraging dialogue, promoting encouraging dialogue, promoting voice and inclusionvoice and inclusion


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1. Making attribution to the 1. Making attribution to the change in governance change in governance

In evaluating ENCISS’ effectiveness to In evaluating ENCISS’ effectiveness to improving the governance landscape in improving the governance landscape in

Sierra Leone, it faces the problem of Sierra Leone, it faces the problem of attribution —that is of being able to attribution —that is of being able to show a clear causal linkage between show a clear causal linkage between

ENCISS activities and changes in ENCISS activities and changes in governancegovernance.

MajorMajor Stakeholders – PA and CS. Stakeholders – PA and CS.


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1. Making attribution to the 1. Making attribution to the change in governance Cont’dchange in governance Cont’d

E.g. 1. E.g. 1. The achievement of outcome The achievement of outcome indicators like, indicators like, ““effective institutions effective institutions

(state and civil society) of good (state and civil society) of good governance in place promoting governance in place promoting

democratic decision making” and democratic decision making” and “effective pro-poor resource allocation “effective pro-poor resource allocation

at the national and local levels”at the national and local levels” lie lie outside ENCISS’ powers and needs political outside ENCISS’ powers and needs political

willwill


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1. Making attribution to the 1. Making attribution to the change in governance Cont’dchange in governance Cont’d

E.g. 2. Indicators relating to E.g. 2. Indicators relating to behavioural behavioural shifts/changes from citizens i.e. shifts/changes from citizens i.e. “ “60% of citizens in 60% of citizens in

targeted districts know where and how to targeted districts know where and how to access their rights to education, health and access their rights to education, health and food” and “level and quality of response by food” and “level and quality of response by chiefs (in 20 chiefdoms) and five (5) local chiefs (in 20 chiefdoms) and five (5) local

council to concerns of poor and marginalised council to concerns of poor and marginalised people (youths and women’s groups) in 8 people (youths and women’s groups) in 8

targeted districts”targeted districts” . Could be achieved through Could be achieved through multi-scale intervention involving many stakeholders multi-scale intervention involving many stakeholders

and not ENCISS aloneand not ENCISS alone


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2. Indicator Definition – 2. Indicator Definition – Qut&QulQut&Qul

ENCISS faces the challenge of ENCISS faces the challenge of adequately specifying their adequately specifying their

meaning or providing concrete meaning or providing concrete operational definition of these operational definition of these indicators so they do not lend indicators so they do not lend

themselves to easy themselves to easy interpretation of success. interpretation of success.


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3. How can we measure and 3. How can we measure and evaluate ENCISS’ impact evaluate ENCISS’ impact

with regards to its effects with regards to its effects on the two overarching on the two overarching

reform processes: PRS and reform processes: PRS and Decentralization. Linking Decentralization. Linking

governance to development governance to development outcomes is complexoutcomes is complex


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4. Weak Capacity of CSOs and 4. Weak Capacity of CSOs and limited space for engagement.limited space for engagement.

In SL, the capacity of CSOs are In SL, the capacity of CSOs are very weak. The concept of social very weak. The concept of social accountability is also new. The accountability is also new. The

Challenge faced by ENCISS: They Challenge faced by ENCISS: They cannot collectively articulate their cannot collectively articulate their feedback on service delivery. Also feedback on service delivery. Also challenged in using participatory challenged in using participatory monitoring tools i.e. CRC & CSCmonitoring tools i.e. CRC & CSC


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5. 5. Ethnic and political Ethnic and political polarization – this was clearly polarization – this was clearly manifested in the last general manifested in the last general

elections conducted in elections conducted in September 2007. This coupled September 2007. This coupled

with the reluctance of citizens to with the reluctance of citizens to give honest and critical feedback give honest and critical feedback

on government performance.on government performance.


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6. Another challenge is measuring 6. Another challenge is measuring governance in a context where governance in a context where

many are bordered about “Bread many are bordered about “Bread and Butter” issue. Poverty is and Butter” issue. Poverty is widespread in Sierra Leone. widespread in Sierra Leone.


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Challenges in Measuring Governance Impact The Experience of ENCISS Prepared and presented by

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