Approaches to embedding indigenous knowledge systems in Made in Africa Evaluations

Abstract

Background: In this article, the authors make a case for weaving indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) with monitoring and evaluation of interventions targeted at communities on the African continent. Current efforts do not make explicit reference to indigenous knowledge in Made in Africa Evaluation (MAE). Indigenous knowledge systems are implied as the defining aspect of MAE, being called upon to be fused with existing evaluation systems and practices in order to enhance evaluation in African communities.Objective: To call for enrichment of the MAE in setting the agenda and bring agency to evaluation practices in Africa against centuries of unsustainable developmental practices that continue to underdevelop the continent.Method: This article explores aspects of IKS which challenge Western hegemonic epistemologies in evaluation approaches and practices in Africa.Results: It is argued that associations such as African Evaluation Association (AfrEA) should strive to become knowledge hubs which pursue the mission to re-project and reposition Africa within the existing continuum of global knowledge.Conclusion: The article makes several recommendations for fusing IKS with MAE in a bid to bring the African voice to the fore in evaluations.

Factors affecting the integration of cultural values into evaluation: Indigenous perspectives

“…Culturally evaluative ideas have the potential to shape evaluation theory and practice in Africa, judging from recent CRE studies (Chirau & Ramasobana 2022;Mapitsa & Ngwato 2020;Pophiwa & Saidi 2022). Contemporary evaluation notions seem to push CRE values, knowledge, ideals, and other cultural realities on a modernisation guilt path where cultural evaluative values and philosophies tend to be deemed anachronistic in evaluation research and practice.…”

“…Nonetheless, the recent quest among African evaluators is to ensure that the evaluation research and practices are rooted in 'cultural competence, contextual relevance and cultural validity' (Pophiwa & Saidi 2022). The notion is that this will guarantee sustainability because Euro-American evaluation approaches have failed to properly measure the programme outcome and reverse developmental challenges in the continent (Chilisa & Mertens 2021).…”

“…Chilisa et al (2016) observed that Euro-Western evaluation and research theories and methods tend to sideline and disregard the relevance of knowledge systems from former colonies that were historically oppressed. The narrative is that former colonies in Africa have anachronistic values, which tend to cause evaluators to self-question the relevance of cultural values in evaluation (Mbava & Chapman 2020;Pophiwa & Saidi 2022). Power dynamics also exist in the creation evaluation agendas, who decides when to begin, the approach, and the theory to be used.…”

“…Several indigenous concepts, notions, frameworks, and philosophies have been proposed by these scholars to decolonise and indigenise the evaluation theories and approaches (Chilisa et al 2016;Easton 2012;Mbava & Chapman 2020;Pophiwa & Saidi 2022). The inclusion of the culture of beneficiary communities in the evaluation process has been central in their respective studies.…”

Made in Africa Evaluation

“…The study found that there is considerable scope for the evaluation sector to draw on indigenous knowledge systems research, particularly drawing on process and methodological lessons from designing studies, as well as defining power dynamics and critical systems approaches. The article by Pophiwa and Saidi (2022) shares approaches to embedding indigenous knowledge systems in MAEs. The aim and objective are to call for the enrichment of MAE in setting the agenda and bringing agency to evaluation practices in Africa against centuries of unsustainable developmental practices that continue to underdevelop the continent.…”