Institutionalizing Impact Evaluation: South Institutionalizing Impact Evaluation: South Asian PerspectiveAsian Perspective

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Bhutan’s PerspectiveBhutan’s Perspective

Karma Galleg, Gross National Happiness CommissionMarch , 2009

Country backgroundCountry background

A small Himalayan country located between India & A small Himalayan country located between India & ChinaChina

Area - 38,394 sq.kmArea - 38,394 sq.km Population – 634,982Population – 634,982 GDP per capita(US$) - 4,800 (2008)GDP per capita(US$) - 4,800 (2008) HDI Ranking – 131 out of 179 countries (2008)HDI Ranking – 131 out of 179 countries (2008) Government – Constitutional MonarchyGovernment – Constitutional Monarchy

Evaluation System in BhutanEvaluation System in Bhutan

GNH Commission (erstwhile Planning Commission) is GNH Commission (erstwhile Planning Commission) is the central coordinating agency for development the central coordinating agency for development planning and monitoring in Bhutanplanning and monitoring in Bhutan

Monitoring and evaluation is the key mandate of Monitoring and evaluation is the key mandate of GNHCGNHC

GNHC developed National M&E System to institute GNHC developed National M&E System to institute systematic mechanism for tracking plans and systematic mechanism for tracking plans and programsprograms

M&E Guidelines drafted & will be operational from M&E Guidelines drafted & will be operational from 2009 onwards 2009 onwards

Institutional Set-up for M&E Institutional Set-up for M&E

GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS COMMISSION

COMMISSION

GNH COMMISSION SECRETARIAT

GNH COMMITTEE

DEPARTMENTS/ NON-DEPARTMENTAL

BODIES

POLICY & PLANNING DIVISION

DIVISIONS/ SECTIONS/UNITS

DZONGKHAG TSHOGDU

REGIONAL CENTRES/ PROGRAMMES/

PROJECTS DZONGKHAG SECTOR

OFFICES DZONGKHAG PLANNING

UNIT

GEWOG TSHOGDE

GEWOG EXTENSION OFFICES

GUP’s OFFICE (GEWOG ADM. OFFICER)

DPA

DNB

NSB Research Institutes

DZONGKHAG ADMINISTRATION

GEWOG ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL LEVEL

CENTRAL MINISTRY/ A GENCY LEVEL

DISTRICT LEVEL

BLOCK LEVEL

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

Key: Co-ordination Reporting & Feedback

Status of Impact Evaluation in BhutanStatus of Impact Evaluation in Bhutan

Limited demand for impact evaluations by policy Limited demand for impact evaluations by policy makersmakers

Demand for impact evaluation mainly driven by Demand for impact evaluation mainly driven by international donorsinternational donors

Low level of participation by research institutes, civil Low level of participation by research institutes, civil society organizations, private sector in impact society organizations, private sector in impact evaluationsevaluations

Limited capacity even at national level (GNHC) for Limited capacity even at national level (GNHC) for impact evaluationsimpact evaluations

Opportunities & strategies for promoting Opportunities & strategies for promoting impact evaluationimpact evaluation

GNH Commission as the central policy and planning GNH Commission as the central policy and planning agency is well placed to create demand by the policy agency is well placed to create demand by the policy makersmakers

A separate Research and Evaluation Division created A separate Research and Evaluation Division created in GNHC to commission evaluations and frame in GNHC to commission evaluations and frame evaluation guidelines including impact evaluations evaluation guidelines including impact evaluations

Develop network with regional and international Develop network with regional and international evaluation networks and associationsevaluation networks and associations

Good support from development partners in Good support from development partners in developing institutional capacity and mechanism in developing institutional capacity and mechanism in promoting impact evaluations promoting impact evaluations

Conducted nation-wide impact assessment Conducted nation-wide impact assessment of rural development (RRDIA 2007) of rural development (RRDIA 2007)

Conducted capacity development outcome Conducted capacity development outcome evaluation of Danish supported evaluation of Danish supported organizations in Bhutan in partnership with organizations in Bhutan in partnership with Danish Evaluation Department (2006)Danish Evaluation Department (2006)

Terminal Review of 9Terminal Review of 9thth Five Year Planned in Five Year Planned in 20092009

Few impact evaluations on selected Few impact evaluations on selected themes and development priorities themes and development priorities proposed as a part of Terminal Reviewproposed as a part of Terminal Review