CLEAR-AA Strengthens Leadership for Evaluation Commissioners in Tanzania
- CLEAR-AA
In July 2025, the Center for Learning on Evaluation and Results for Anglophone Africa (CLEAR-AA), an implementing partner of the Global Evaluation Initiative (GEI), partnered with Tanzania’s Prime Minister’s Office - Parliament, Policy and Coordination, to deliver a four-day training in Dodoma. Titled "Strengthening Evaluation Leadership: A Capacity Building Training for Evaluation Commissioners", the program brought together senior officials and commissioners from ministries, departments, and agencies responsible for strategic oversight and decision-making.
The training aimed to strengthen participants' ability to prioritize, commission, manage, and institutionalize evaluations that align with national policy priorities and contribute to improved public sector performance. A central focus was placed on leadership throughout the evaluation cycle - from planning and design to utilization and sustainability.
"We deeply appreciate the continued partnership with CLEAR-AA and GEI. Tanzania remains firmly committed to strengthening M&E systems, aligned with the newly launched Vision 2050 and H.E the President's directives. This collaboration is timely and vital in advancing evidence-based decision making, Transparency and accountability across government institutions." Ms Sakina Mwinyimkuu, Director of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Tanzania Prime Minister’s Office
Over the course of four days, participants engaged in an intensive and collaborative learning experience designed to strengthen national evaluation systems and promote a culture of results. The sessions emphasized the strategic role of evaluation in governance, including the importance of enabling policies and generating timely, policy-relevant evidence to enhance accountability and service delivery.
"Peer learning really works when it’s practical,” said Ms. Khumo Pule, M&E Officer at CLEAR-AA. “Exchange visits, roundtables, and South-South dialogues allow leaders to see first-hand how others are embedding evaluations. Joint projects can also be powerful because they force peers to collaborate and problem-solve together. I think our role is to create those safe spaces where commissioners can openly share both their successes and their challenges."
Participants then explored practical tools such as theory of change, logical frameworks, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plans, applying these concepts through real-world case studies like the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme in Longido and Monduli districts. Sessions also focused on programme evaluation principles, the design of terms of reference, and ensuring evaluations are purposeful and actionable. The training concluded with modules on methodological rigor, ethical integrity, and institutional learning, including mixed-methods approaches and strategies for effective commissioning.
Comparative case studies from South Africa, Uganda, and Benin offered insights into institutionalising evaluation, highlighting the need for context-sensitive implementation rather than simply replicating external models.
Participants noted both progress and ongoing challenges in Tanzania’s M&E system, pointing to the importance of stronger leadership, more training opportunities, and dedicated resources to embed evaluation in government processes.