Abstract
This dissertation investigates how senior decision-makers (SDMs) in the Department of Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (DPME) in South Africa currently utilise evidence. The existing literature highlights a significant lack of documentation regarding the methods by which evidence is accessed, quality-assured, critically evaluated, and synthesised to support policy-making in the South African government. Over the past two decades, research indicates that integrating evidence into the policy-making process significantly improves transparency and accountability. Evidence provides essential insights that help decision-makers assess the effectiveness of previous programs and policies, ultimately contributing to creating more effective strategies. To have a significant impact, evidence must facilitate evidence-based decision-making that considers the specific context and real-life situations within the public policy landscape. This dissertation employs a qualitative methodology to deeply explore how senior decision-makers engage with evidence in their routine activities, particularly during moments of crisis. It also examines the various forms of evidence they rely on in these contexts. Semi-structured interviews were utilised to analyse evidence use and its current status comprehensively. The data was analysed using thematic analysis, which uncovered the present state of evidence utilisation, barriers that hinder effective use, and potential strategies to improve evidence engagement. The findings reveal that decision-makers often need a clearer understanding of the significance of evidence and need help to identify gaps that could inform their decisions. Consequently, they frequently need to pay more attention to critical evidence gaps that could yield valuable insights for more informed decision-making. The research identifies several factors that obstruct the effective use of evidence by SDMs, including a lack of coordination, resource limitations, delayed access to evidence, and political or ideological influences. Additionally, there is an urgent need to cultivate a more robust evidence-based culture and to enhance decision-makers’ skills in critically appraising and synthesising evidence. The dissertation concludes that, despite advancements within the evidence ecosystem, significant challenges related to using evidence in South Africa still need to be addressed.