Institutionalizing and Streamlining Monitoring and Evaluation in Post-Revolutionary Egypt

Our interest in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) arises from the Arab Spring revolutions in several Arab countries that began in 2010 and the increasing calls for holding governments accountable. Among the main reasons for the uprisings that occurred, and that started with Tunisia and Egypt, were the lack of accountability demonstrated by the previous autocratic regimes toward their citizens, the inequity in distribution of wealth and lack of social justice. The belief is that with institutionalizing and streamlining of development M&E systems in these countries, citizens will have the tools and means to hold their governments accountable for results achieved and will have the capability to undertake evidence-based evaluation and assessment of public policies based on the outputs, outcomes and impacts realized. This chapter is a snapshot of the current M&E situation in postrevolutionary Egypt and an attempt to identify the way forward. Results contained in the chapter are based on a readiness assessment tool developed by its authors.