An In-Depth Critique of the Made in Africa Evaluation Framework
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... |
This paper critically examines the Made in Africa Evaluation (MAE) Framework, an emerging approach that challenges the dominance of Euro Western evaluation models by centring Indigenous knowledge systems, African philosophies such as Ubuntu, cultural relevance and local ownership. It highlights the framework’s potential to decolonise evaluation, strengthen African ownership and advance epistemic justice, while also identifying challenges including conceptual ambiguity, limited empirical validation, lack of standardised methodologies, institutional capacity constraints and persistent power asymmetries in global knowledge production. The paper proposes strategic directions including developing operational guidelines, investing in capacity building, embedding MAE within institutions and increasing the production of Africa centred evaluation knowledge, with the aim of aligning evaluation practice more closely with African realities and development priorities such as Agenda 2063.
Read the full issue paper here
About the author
Christopher Konde Tifuntoh
Tifuntoh Christopher Konde is a bilingual (English/French) Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) specialist with over 20 years of experience in international development across West and Central Africa. Over the course of his career, he has held senior leadership and technical positions with organisations including the Mastercard Foundation, TechnoServe International and Heifer International.
His expertise spans programme quality management, evaluation systems design, adaptive management, research methodologies, strategic planning and impact reporting. Tifuntoh has led and contributed to numerous evaluations, baseline studies and learning initiatives across more than a dozen African countries, with thematic expertise in livelihoods, food security, gender equality, youth empowerment, market systems development and organisational learning.
He is currently pursuing a PhD in Measurement, Monitoring and Evaluation at EUCLID University and holds a Master’s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. He also holds a postgraduate diploma in Women and Gender Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Buea. His research and professional interests focus on Made in Africa Evaluation (MAE), program design, impact measurement and strengthening locally grounded evaluation systems.
