Introduction
takes time, resources, stability in the political environment, and champions who are not faint-of-heart. This brings us to the significant challenge of sustainability. Indeed, governments willing to use results-based information to assist in the governance of the political system and frame public policies, give evidence of some level of democracy and openness. But even in these countries, there is often a reluctance to measure and monitor for fear that the process will present bad news to the leadership and other stakeholders. Presenting one’s performance shortfalls to others is not typical bureaucratic behavior. Thus, the efforts to build such a system should recognize the inherent and real political limitations and should start with a simple approach, working with stakeholders to help them recognize that it is their right to be regularly informed on the performance of their government and continue to emphasize, time and again, that information can help improve policy making and public management. To achieve these modest goals should then be reason for longer-term optimism.
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Making Monitoring and Evaluation Systems Work