Building Capacity for Effective Governance: M&E Training at Balochistan Civil Service Academy

Centre for Learning on Evaluation and Results, Pakistan and Central Asia (CLEAR PCA)/ CERP, conducted a two-day training session in collaboration with the Balochistan Civil Service Academy (BCSA). The training was attended by twenty-five Grade 18 officers.
The BCSA was formally institutionalized less than a year ago in Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but most disadvantaged province; while CSA in Balochistan is at a very nascent stage, their leadership is committed to building the M&E capacity of their officers to strengthen provincial development projects which are undertaken by the government. With this training CLEAR PCA/CERP aimed to create a meaningful impact in the M&E space in Balochistan.

This long-term institutional collaboration includes a series of yearly training of the BCSA officers, based on the requirements from the top management and needs assessment carried out by the CLEAR Center & CERP.
Participants in the training came from various government departments, including the Social Welfare Department, Agriculture and Cooperative Department, and Secretariat Services. For many, this was the first exposure to training on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E).
“M&E is the key factor missing in government operations. I hope to gain new knowledge from this session,” said a representative from the Chief Minister’s Special Team.
The training covered several critical topics, including the Theory of Change, methods for implementing Program Monitoring, the use of Cost-Benefit Analysis, survey design, indicator measurement, and experimental and quasi-experimental evaluation methods, as well as impact evaluation. Each session was delivered using context-specific case studies, followed by group activities to enhance engagement.
The Director General of BCSA, a strong advocate for using evidence in decision-making, praised the training and expressed hope that the participants would apply their new knowledge in their respective departments.
“Without hard evidence, decisions cannot be made effectively. We have been following trends without questioning them. We need to break out of this culture,” said the Director General of BCSA.
Following this round of training, the next session will build upon the learning and insights of the officers and management and is scheduled to take place in April 2025.