Outcome Evaluation of the Training Course on The Theory of Change for Planning in the Public Sector

The purpose of the report is to present findings of the outcome evaluation of the training on “Theory of Change for Planning in the Public Sector” offered by the DPME and NSG. Theory of Change (TOC) has been identified as an important tool to support impact and outcomes planning and specifically the Results Based Methodology and should therefore form the basis for the development of Strategic Plans and Annual Performance Plans as prescribed by the 2019 Revised Framework for Strategic Plans and Annual Performance Plans (DPME,2023). The training course on the Theory of Change for Planning in the Public Sector is aimed at planners, monitoring and evaluation practitioners and programme managers in the national and provincial spheres of government who are involved in government planning processes. This is a practical non-accredited course targeted at officials and has no relation to any existing Unit Standard and the course material is not Unit Standard based. This is a 3-day, highly interactive public service orientated course, during which delegates are exposed to practical, group discussions and group work with printed and electronic materials. The report is organised into several sections, starting with the methodology, followed by the Theory of Change, literature review, key evaluation findings based on specific evaluation questions and concludes with actionable recommendations Objectives of the Evaluation The objectives of the evaluation included the following: • An assessment of the relevance of the training including the curriculum, materials and methodology • The extent to which the facilitation of the training appropriately covers the knowledge and application of the TOC in institutional planning • Assessment of the knowledge gained from the training course • The extent to which the participants are able to apply the knowledge gained from the training to develop the institutional plans. • The extent to which the training course led to the development of appropriate resultsbased indicators and targets. • Exploration of key enabling and inhibiting factors within the institutions to achieve the outcomes of the training course relating to the institutionalisation of results-based institutional planning. Focusing the Evaluation This is an outcome evaluation premised on the training on the TOC for Planning in the Public Sector. Outcome evaluation is a type of evaluation that focuses on measuring the results or outcomes of a program or intervention.