Project-Level Indicators Workshop

The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) organized a Workshop on Project-Level Indicators for its staff on 19-21 October 2009 at Leopard Rock, in Vumba, Zimbabwe. The overall goal of the workshop was to address the lack of adequate performance measurement framework for monitoring and evaluation of ACBF-supported projects. Specifically, the workshop aimed at building a shared understanding of the conceptual definitions and processes that underpin the assessment of capacity development interventions; developing a core set of output and outcome indicators to monitor and evaluate the results of ACBF projects in its various program areas; and providing a platform to share good practices, lessons, and innovations with ACBF partners. More than 20 participants took part in the workshop, which was facilitated by ACBF Operations Evaluation Department (OED) – Dr. Apollinaire Ndorukwigira, OED Manager, Mr. Ernest Etti and Dr. Adeboye Adeyemo – the World Bank Institute (WBI) team led by Mr. Samuel Otoo, Manager, Capacity Development and Results at the WBI, and two consultants – Dr. Neddy Matshalaga (gender) and Dr. Eric Weiss.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Frannie Léautier, ACBF Executive Secretary outlined several areas that the workshop is expected to shed light on. She particularly stressed on the need for: (i) a theoretical and conceptual underpinning of the framework; (ii) the identification of change agents, interactions and interdependence of factors inciting change, and evolutionary changes; (iii) the definition of the assessment’s level and integration of the various measurements into a single framework; (iv) the particular consideration to be given to post-conflict countries which have specific needs and traps; (v) experiential learning within the Foundation, and the design of strategies for applying the learning to ACBF grantees; and (vi) an in-depth reflection on the Foundation’s role in igniting and/or sustaining change. She expressed her hope that the workshop will assist the Foundation in enriching and fine-tuning its performance measurement framework, in embedding the refined framework in its Management Action Plan (MAP), and in reflecting on the implications of such a framework on its portfolio.

The workshop pointed out to the need of setting an Action Plan with respect to the exercise of refining the ACBF Results Framework, in line with the MAP priorities. The subsequent steps will involve the development of a monitoring and evaluation plan and the establishment of a core monitoring and evaluation team within ACBF.