Implementation Evaluation of the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (WPRPD) was approved by Cabinet in December 2015, together with its implementation matrix. The strategic objective of the policy was to provide an intervention by accelerating the mainstreaming of disability within government-wide planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation systems, to establish a mechanism for the domestication of the UNCRPD and to establish the baseline for disability rights legislative development. The DWYPD commissioned an implementation evaluation study to determine the following: a) Have the goals and objectives of the WPRPD been achieved; b) Identify the emerging impacts resulting from the implementation of the WPRPD; c) Investigate whether value for money is being achieved; and d) Provide recommendations for improvement. A detailed evaluation matrix was constructed to guide all data collection and analysis. Both primary and secondary data sources were used to inform the evaluation. Secondary data was used to answer questions on the implementation of the WPRPD, such as the objectives, resources (human, financial, physical), activities; and institutional arrangement (implementation and governance structures). A review of international academic articles and research reports published on the implementation of similar legislation and interventions to promote the rights of persons with disabilities was undertaken. The outcomes of the review of secondary data informed the questionnaire, the interviews and in updating the existing Theory of Change. The lack of comprehensive monitoring data at an implementation level was a limitation to the evaluation. In many instances, the ultimate source of information was obtained from the interviews held (primary data). It was not possible to verify all information provided. A total of twenty six face to face in-depth interviews were held with key stakeholders. In addition, ninety four online questionnaires were administered to all stakeholders on the Department of Women Youth and Person with Disability (DWYPD) stakeholder database via Survey Monkey. In the end, the evaluation was based on the data collected from the 42 respondents. The OECD DAC Principles of Relevance, Coherence, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Impact and Sustainability was used to evaluation the implementation of the WHRPD. The key findings are listed below.