About 1,500 government officials, experts and other stakeholders will meet in Arusha this week to examine how better use of data and evidence can improve public planning, resource allocation and service delivery.
The fifth National Monitoring and Evaluation Week runs from September 22 to 26 at Ngurdoto Hotel, with Prime Minister Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba expected to officially open the forum.
The meeting comes as the government seeks to strengthen the use of evidence in assessing development programmes and ensuring public resources are directed towards priorities that deliver results for citizens.
Arusha Regional Commissioner Amos Makalla said the forum would bring together government leaders and officials, development partners, private-sector representatives, civil society organisations and monitoring and evaluation experts.
He said relying on credible data was essential for identifying gaps in the implementation of government programmes and making decisions based on actual results.
“Data and evidence are important in making decisions, planning and implementing government programmes,” Mr Makalla said during a media briefing on Monday.
The forum is being held under the theme “From Evidence to Action”, highlighting the need to move beyond collecting data to using findings to improve policies, projects and public services.
For citizens, effective monitoring and evaluation can help determine whether government-funded projects are meeting their intended objectives, whether resources are being used efficiently and where implementation needs to be improved.
Mr Makalla said the discussions would provide an opportunity for participants to exchange experiences, innovations and best practices in monitoring and evaluation.
He said the approach was consistent with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s vision of improving public service delivery and ensuring citizens receive services efficiently and on time.
Mr Makalla also welcomed participants to Arusha, assuring them that the city and the wider region were safe and that residents were ready to extend their hospitality to visitors.