Browsing by Author "De Coning, Christo"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    An appraisal of participatory monitoring and evaluation in government community development initiatives : a case study of Tana and Athi River Development Authority (TARDA), Kenya
    (University of the Western Cape, 2012) Mariga, Erick; De Coning, Christo
    Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) is an integral part for the success of any government community development initiative as it helps foster a sense of ownership and at the same time promotes meaningful development at grass-root level. The Government of Kenya (GOK), through the Ministry of Regional Development has established Regional Development Authorities (RDA’s) that are mandated to promote development within their areas of jurisdiction by implementing integrated programmes and enhancement of community participation. It is against this backdrop that this research investigation is using Tana and Athi River Development Authority (TARDA) in Kenya as a case study in order to appraise how PME is applied in this process. The people-centred development theory constituted the theoretical grounding of the study, and in addition implementation approaches to PME were discussed in relation to the various project management areas of knowledge. Qualitative methods of research were applied throughout the study in assessing the level of stakeholders’ participation in monitoring and evaluation. A mix of interviews and focus group discussions were utilized. More specifically, individual interviews were conducted with the project beneficiaries/community, TARDA management, project management facilitators, as well as monitoring and evaluation specialists in an attempt to unravel how and to what extent Tana County residents are involved in the monitoring and evaluation process of TARDA projects. Empirical findings gathered from the study were reflected upon through concrete grounded discussions on the contribution of PME in increasing community participation, empowerment and decision-making in various development projects. The research findings also indicated that PME plays a pivotal role in ensuring accountability and transparency of institutions thus creating investor confidence and promoting regional-balanced development. Furthermore, the findings also revealed that an effective PME system gives decision makers an additional public sector management tool, while at the same time building on the capacities of the beneficiaries. Finally, it is proposed that PME should be a standard practice among public sector institutions that embrace PME techniques, also in order to document and share PME experiences for purposes of information generation and future sustainable development.
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    An assessment of quality management practices in high performance sport at two selected South African universities
    (University of the Western Cape, 2015) Groenewald, Ilhaam; De Coning, Christo; Keim, Marion
    This study is motivated by the growing need for South African sport competitions (such as the Olympic Games and various other sport-specific world championships) to be transformed into quality and profitable events, noting that they need to be managed professionally, with well organised and sophisticated athlete preparation with excellent management systems. New pressures have emerged from within South Africa from key stakeholders that require sport organisations to become more performance orientated, and to build their capacity in order to improve or better manage their organisational performance. The primary focus of the research, therefore, is on quality management practices in high performance sport at a programme management level while the research also reviews substantial literature concerning the study in order to explain the dynamics surrounding the high performance management practices of Swimming Centres of Excellence at the two selected universities in South Africa. The study is qualitative and unpacks two theoretical frameworks namely, Total Quality Management practices and a conceptual framework of high performance management structures and processes. The overarching findings and recommendations are that the implementation of the Quality Management Practices (QMPs) require that the principles and philosophy of excellence are shared and understood by all stakeholders. To implement QMPs successfully, there is a need to radically transform conventional practices to achieve radical and pervasive change. The research shows evidence that QMPs involve the redesign of organisational structures, the re-design of work and the re-definition of management style. The swimming high performance environment must be willing to take this into consideration for successful implementation of QMPs at the Centres of Excellence to ensure its future performance
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    Indicator development for the monitoring of performance of sport for development programmes for the youth in the Western Cape Government
    (University of the Western Cape, 2014) Christians, Yolanda; De Coning, Christo
    From the international literature, as well as from South African initiatives, it is clear that the use of sport and development programmes have a tremendous potential to impact on development. Past efforts in South Africa also shows that sport and development initiatives can make a huge impact on youth development and serve as a vehicle for improved social and economic well-being. This was acknowledged by a recent Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) and Interdisciplinary Centre for Sport and Development (ICESSD) publication called, “The Case for Sport: Socio-economic benefits of Sport and Recreation in the Western Cape”. This was the first such research done at the Provincial Government and a particular research finding showed that inadequate monitoring of youth programmes, including the Mass Participation, Opportunity Access, Development and Growth (MOD) Centres were being done. Against the background of the South African Government’s increased efforts to support sport and development a need has also arisen for the improved performance management of these initiatives. In particular, a need exists for an improved understanding of available indicators for the improved monitoring and evaluation of sport youth development programmes. This research investigation conducted both an assessment of available indicators from a theoretical and comparative point of view as well as undertook a case study approach to investigating the type of indicators needed in future in the case of the MOD Centres in the Western Cape. The research methodology consisted of a qualitative study using a case study approach and by collecting information through a literature review, desktop study of primary and secondary sources, semi-structured interviews as well as focus groups. The study included a psycho-social behavioural survey to develop and test some of the anticipated outcomes and indicators for youth programmes. The research findings show that the MOD Centres have been using a good basic set of mostly output indicators but that international and local experiences show that a generic compendium of outcomes-based indicators can be developed that will provide a basis for the monitoring of sport and development programmes for the youth. These provide for exciting options, including the application of the Olympic values and the possibility of including human capital indicators to assess the impact of sport and development initiatives on the youth. This study provides a systematic overview of the existing indicators in use as well as alternative indicators that have been identified through this study. The research findings include a set of proposed anticipated outcomes and indicators for use in sport and development programmes. Specific recommendations have been made to Government, civil society and the research community in this respect.
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    Institutional arrangements for Knowledge management and monitoring and evaluation in G2G partnerships
    (ProQuest, 2018) Pretorius, Leon G.; Chen, Ivy XQ; De Coning, Christo
    Knowledge management (KM) is a well-established management approach that is applied across public sector, civil society (and corporate sectors in future) by systematically creating, preserving and optimally utilising the extensive knowledge present in an organisation. Through the implementation of KM practices, governments could deliver the best possible services, function efficiently and operate in an environment characterised by transparency and accountability. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) is an extremely complex, multidisciplinary and skill intensive endeavor and M&E offer institutions significant opportunities for innovation and change. In this context, the study investigated the need for knowledge management (KM) as well as Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) systems in Government to Government (G2G) partnerships such as in partnerships. This study focused on the development management aspects of such a partnership, although such systems may also be relevant to economic, tourism and other partnerships programmes. The article concluded several recommended strategies including that a need existed to establish more advanced KM and M&E systems in G2G partnerships. The Readiness Assessment of KM showed that a definite need existed for Communities of Practice (COPs) beyond the formal meetings and that professionals and practitioners on both sides needed to exchange explicit and implicit knowledge. A need also existed for improved ICTs based-systems including dedicated portals where policy documentation, programme information and data, as well as M&E results, can be loaded and shared by Governments. The Readiness Assessment conducted regarding M&E showed that a need existed for Results-Based M&E that can be used to ensure evidence-based decision-making in the G2G partnerships.
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    Local governance and disaster risk management in Mozambique
    (2008) Göhl, Sandra E.; De Coning, Christo
    The objective of the study was to find out whether the decentralisation of responsibulities for social economics development facilitated the management of disaster risk during the 2007 floods in Mozambique. the specific aims of the study were to : analyse and discuss national policies for decentralisation and their significance for DRM. Investigate which responsibilities, human and financial resources were available to local governments for the planning, implemantations and monitoring of DRM activities. Identify mechanisms institutions and activities for DRM and find out whether they provided to be effective. Explore how concerned communities participated in DRM activitiesto reduce their vulnerability to disaster risk.
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    Monitoring and evaluation of sport-based HIV/Aids awareness programmes of selected Non-Governmental Organisations in South Africa : strengthening outcome indicators
    (University of the Western Cape, 2016) Maleka, Elma Nelisiwe; De Coning, Christo; Keim, Marion
    There are number of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in South Africa that use sport as a tool to respond to HIV/AIDS mainly among young people, however, little is reported about the outcomes and impact of these programmes. The aim of this study is to contribute to a generic monitoring and evaluation framework by improving the options for the use of outcome indicators of sport-based HIV/AIDS awareness programmes of selected NGOs in South Africa. The research followed a qualitative multiple case study design using multiple data collection instruments. The overall findings revealed that the sport-based HIV/AIDS awareness programmes of five selected NGOs examined in this study focus on similar HIV prevention messages within the key priorities highlighted in the current National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB of South Africa. The HIV prevention messages of selected NGOs are also in line with the commitments and targets of the 2011 UN Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS. The sport-based HIV/AIDS programmes target youth with messages that raise awareness of HIV/AIDS, HIV risk behaviours and HIV stigma. Furthermore messages that promote uptake of health services such as HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) and Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC). However, evaluating outcomes and impact of such programmes remains a challenge. Descriptive information and outputs are more recorded rather than information about the actual outcomes which occurred as a result of sport-based HIV/AIDS awareness programmes. The use of multiple data collection instruments in conjunction with approaches of the ten-step model to a result-based monitoring and evaluation systems enables this study to propose a total of fifty one generic outcome indicators. These generic outcome indicators focus on measuring change in the knowledge of HIV/AIDS and change in attitude and intention towards HIV risk behaviours. In addition, this study further proposed a total of eight generic outcome indicators to measurepredictors of HIV risk behaviour. The selected NGOs can adapt the proposed generic outcomes and indicators based on the settings of their programmes. It can be concluded that the proposed generic outcome indicators are able to assist the NGOs to improve monitoring and evaluation of their sport-based HIV/AIDS awareness programmes. A collaborative approach by all stakeholders is required, from international organisations, funders, governments, NGOs and communities to strengthening monitoring and evaluation of sport-based HIV/AIDS awareness programmes including other development programmes.
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    Sport for development and peace in communities: A case study of the ‘sport for peace and social transformation programme’ in Uasin Gishu, Kenya
    (University of the Western Cape, 2021) Mariga, Erick; Lees, Marion Keim; De Coning, Christo
    This study examined the role of Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) in peacebuilding, focussing particularly on the case of the Kenya Community Sports Foundation’s (KESOFO) Sport for Peace and Social Transformation (SPST) programme in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. It was meant to provide an in-depth understanding of the role generally played by community NGO programmes in fostering peace in communities through variations of the SDP framework. Additionally, the study’s purpose was to identify lessons of experience from the programme and give recommendations on how the programme can be improved in delivering its stated goal of fostering peace and development in conflict prone communities. The study made use of Johan Galtung’s 3Rs Conflict transformation theory, linking it with the Sports for Development and Peace (SDP) framework, with a critical analysis being proffered all in the quest to inform conceptualisation of this particular study. It made use of the philosophical assumption of interpretivism through relativist ontology and qualitative research methodology anchored on a descriptive approach.