This case study examines how meso-level research and evaluation can be used to drive strategic change in South Africa’s early childhood development sector. Drawing on four programme evaluations, it shows how standardised tools such as the ELOM suite are used not only to measure child outcomes, but also to inform programme design, strengthen implementation, and support advocacy with funders and policymakers.
The report highlights how evaluation findings are translated into action – from improving teaching practices and refining interventions to influencing funding decisions and scaling effective models. It also identifies key challenges, including the cost of evaluations, data quality, and the limited dissemination of findings, and offers practical lessons for strengthening data use across the sector.
Author: Dr Jessica Horler
Contributors: Sonja Giese
Explore more related resources or search through all our resources on our resources page.
