Curriculum Vitae: Mike Leslie

Curriculum Vitae

Mike Leslie

Address
Phone: +27 21 671 1402 / PO Box 46830, Glosderry, Cape Town, 7702
Fax: +27 21 671 1409 / South Africa
Cell: +27 76 912 4767 / Email:
Personal
Date of birth: / 3 June 1983
Language: / English (excellent)

Education

·  Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation, Stellenbosch University, SA, 2011

·  MPhil in Community and Development (Cum Laude), Stellenbosch University, SA, 2010

·  BA Humanities (Cum Laude), Stellenbosch University, SA, 2006

Field of specialisation

Mike is an evaluation specialist with extensive public sector experience in South Africa across local, provincial and national government. His expertise includes evaluation approaches and designs, as well as monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system development and consolidation. He has a background in community development and applied social research methods. He is passionate about public policy, evidence-based planning, monitoring and evaluation for improved developmental outcomes.

Professional membership

Mike is a member of the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association (SAMEA). He has been a member of SAMEA since 2010 and recently completed a term from 2012-2015 on the Board of Directors. His term included serving as the coordinator of the 5th Biennial SAMEA Conference for 500+ local and international participations in Sandton, Johannesburg from 12-16 October 2015. He remains an active organiser and contributor within the South African monitoring and evaluation community.

Work experience

Sept 2016- Present: PDG, Cape Town, South Africa

Director and Monitoring & Evaluation Practice Area leader. Responsible for Human Resource and Marketing Portfolios. See project list below for an overview of projects.

Dec 2012- August 2016: PDG, Cape Town, South Africa

Consultant specialising in evaluation and M&E systems. See project list below for an overview of projects.

May 2011-Nov 2012: Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) Advisory, East London, South Africa

Consultant: Monitoring & Evaluation

Jan 2009- Apr 2011: Postgraduate & International Office (PGIO) Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Coordinator: Student Life & Integration

Information on earlier employment history available on request.

Key projects

Monitoring & Evaluation

2015/present Implementation evaluation of the Framework for Strategic and Annual Performance Plans, Department of Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation

Currently serving as an evaluation specialist assessing the results of the application of the Framework for Strategic and Annual Performance Plans as a guiding policy framework for strategic and performance planning for all national and provincial departments in South Africa. The project has important reform implications for the government planning system.

2016/present Revision and update of the Infrastructure Progression Model, National Treasury

Currently serving as a lead consultant reviewing the design of the Infrastructure Progression Model (IPM) for the health and education sectors. Proposing revisions to the existing IPM based on national developments in the Infrastructure Delivery Management landscape since 2013. My responsibilities include adapting the overall design of the progression model in line with other maturity models employed within the public service and revising the infrastructure delivery performance component.

2015/2016 Implementation evaluation of the Western Cape Corporate Services Centre, Western Cape Department of the Premier

Served as an evaluation specialist responsible for the evaluation design, development of data collection instruments and undertook primary data collection. Project managed the evaluation, led the analysis and helped draft the evaluation reports.

2015/2016 Implementation evaluation of the Citizen-Based Monitoring Model, Department of Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation

Served as an evaluation specialist responsible for the evaluation design, development of data collection instruments and undertook primary data collection at two pilot sites. Project managed the evaluation, led the analysis and co-drafted the final evaluation reports.

2012/present Assessment of Government Evaluations Rounds 1, 2 & 3- Department of Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation

Co-developed and revised an evaluation quality assessment tool aligned to DPME’s Standards for evaluation in government. Moderated quality assessments of evaluations conducted from 2006-present and contributed to the development of an Evaluation Management Information System (EMIS) and guidelines. Took over project management responsibilities in the 3rd round.

2014/2015 Implementation Evaluation of the Management Performance Assessment Tool (MPAT)- Department of Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation

Served as an evaluation specialist and led the evaluation design and clarificatory review stages, developed the data collection instruments, drafted the findings and analysis and co-presented the final evaluation report.

2014/2015 Evaluation of the Frontline Service Delivery Monitoring (FSDM) Programme in Gauteng- Gauteng Office of the Premier

Served as an evaluation specialist responsible for the evaluation design and clarificatory review using a theory-based approached. Developed data collection instruments and led the data analysis and drafting of the final evaluation reports.

2013/2014 Urban Settlements Development Grant Design and Implementation Evaluation- Department of Human Settlements

Served as an evaluation specialist responsible for the overall evaluation design and implementation assessments in the City of Cape Town and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. Co-drafted the final evaluation report.

2013/2014 Rapid appraisal of Outcome 8: Output 1, Department of Human Settlements

Project managed and led the design, data collection, analysis and drafting of the final report.

2013/2014 Monitoring and Evaluation Sectoral Survey, Department of Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation

Developed the survey’s conceptual framework, undertook preliminary research and surveyed the human settlements sector. Worked with the team programmer to develop an online M&E diagnostic tool and made subsequent revisions after pilot.

2012/2013 Infrastructure Progression Model, National Treasury

Developed the performance component of an infrastructure progression model for provinces in the health and education sectors.

More information on Mike’s role in the following projects can also be provided on request:

2014/2015 Breede Valley Long Term Financial Plan 2015-2024, Breede Valley Local Municipality

2013/2014 Evaluation of Environmental Programmes, Department of Environmental Affairs

2013/2014 Development of the Intergovernmental Planning Framework, Department of Cooperative Governance

2013/2014 Research into the functionality of the National and Provincial Intergovernmental Relations Structures, Department of Cooperative Governance

2013/14 Review of District Municipalities, Department of Cooperative Governance

2012/13 Assessment of the linking of fixed-term contracts for Municipal Managers to the municipal electoral term, Department of Cooperative Governance

Publications

Developing evaluation standards and assessing evaluation quality, 2015, lead author on the paper with Ian Goldman, Nishendra Moodley, Christel Jacobs, Donna Podems, Mark Everett and Terence Beney for the African Evaluation Journal 3(1), Art. #112, 13 pages.

Quality assessment of government evaluations in South Africa – some initial findings, 2013, co-authored the paper with Ian Goldman, Christel Jacob, Rosina Maphalla, Nishendra Moodley and Nazreen Kola, 4th Biennial South African Monitoring & Evaluation Association Conference, September 2013, Sandton, Johannesburg. Awarded Best Conference Paper.

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