The Impact of Performance Evaluation on the Effectiveness of the Public Sector in Zanzibar

Abstract

The study investigates the impact of performance evaluation on the effectiveness of public sector institutions in Zanzibar, with a particular focus on improving accountability, service delivery, and organizational performance. Using a quantitative research design, data were collected from 162 public sector officials directly involved in planning and evaluation activities under the Zanzibar Development Plan (ZADEP). Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses, including linear regression, revealed a moderately strong relationship of 40% (R² = 0.398) between institutional participation in performance evaluation processes and enhanced public sector outcomes. The findings indicate that while performance evaluation is acknowledged as a valuable tool for improving public service delivery, its practical effectiveness remains uneven across institutions, as evidenced by varying mean scores: involvement of M&E agencies scored 3.64, reflecting positive engagement; training by the lead agency had a moderate mean of 3.21, indicating limited but existing capacity-building; communication of evaluation results scored 3.52, suggesting fair dissemination across departments; inclusion of local consultants received a lower score of 2.89, pointing to weak integration of national expertise; and ZAMEA’s role in capacity building and collaboration with academia both scored 2.69, highlighting minimal impact and limited visibility in institutional processes. Overall, the study observes moderate internal participation but significant deficiencies in training, knowledge sharing, and local engagement, and therefore recommends strengthening interdepartmental collaboration, investing in institutional training, and formally integrating local consultants and academic institutions into performance evaluation systems to ensure a more effective, accountable, and data-driven public sector under ZADEP.

Keywords:       Performance Evaluation, Public Sector Effectiveness, Service Delivery, Institutional Participation, Evaluation Systems, Organizational Efficiency, Accountability, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Zanzibar Development Plan (ZADEP), Public Administration, Institutional Capacity, Evidence-Based Decision Making, Evaluation Utilization