Evaluation Capacity Development Processes And Organisational Learning In Ugandan Municipal Local Governments

ABSTRACT

The study to establish the relationship between Evaluation Capacity Development (ECD) processes and Organisational Learning (OL) in Ugandan Municipal Local Governments (LGs) was influenced by the Organisational Learning theory (Argyris & Schön, 1978) and used a cross sectional survey design that adopted mixed methods on 62 (sixty two) respondents from four Municipal LGs, two central government ministries and one agency. The researcher employed a questionnaire survey, key informant interviews and document review to collect data that was analysed using quantitative approaches of calculating: frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations as well as correlation and regression analyses and qualitative approaches like categorization. The results supported the research hypotheses of: (i). a strong positive and statistically significant correlation between ECD designing and OL (rho=0.557, sig=0.000) and, (ii). a strong positive and statistically significant correlation between ECD evaluation and OL (rho=0.622, sig=0.000) but established (iii). a weak positive correlation between ECD implementation and OL (rho=0.044, sig=0.752) in Municipal LGs. The results also pointed out evaluation of ECD is the major contributor to OL thus confirming the paramount need to develop evaluation capacity in municipal LGs in Uganda which evaluation should importantly evaluate ECD initiatives themselves. It implied that stakeholders ought to pay special attention to the evaluation of ECD as it showed greatest contribution to OL (Regression analysis Unstandardised B coefficient = 1.351) by especially promoting an integrated and systems thinking approach and emphasizing ECD participants’ satisfaction. It is recommended that Municipal LGs embrace integrated approaches that encourage participatory ECD processes for acquisition of knowledge and skills as well as supportive attitude for an evaluation culture which can enable them realize Municipal LG development goals. Future studies should explore more dimensions of ECD and OL and cover other public service sectors in Uganda for a clearer appreciation of the phenomena.