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270 2. Evidence-based policy making process: M&E plays a critical role in facilitating evidence-based policy making by generating and integrating the generated information into policy-making process to help policy-makers design and formulate public policies that are evidence-based. This makes public policy to be more responsive to the real needs of the citizens, both at community and national levels. 3. Informed decision-making: M&E helps policy-makers and development planners in coming up with sound and informed decisions in the development processes, both at community and national levels. 4. Budget planning process : M&E provides key indicators and information on the national budgeting process, thereby providing the basis for citizens’ participation in the budget planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, which in turn improves budget effectiveness and efficiency. 5. National planning : M&E provides valuable information in setting public objectives and goals, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) from informed angles on national development, both for economic growth and human development, thereby making planning more responsive to the development challenges. 6. Public feedback : M&E helps to obtain feedback from the public on national development indicators and communicate to policy-makers, which is essential in policy design and formulation of public action. 7. Public spending : M&E assists in making public spending more effective, to ensure that funds are being used correctly and on the right things, thereby making public spending more effective and efficient. 8. Law - making : M&E helps law-makers formulate laws that are based on scientific evidence to ensure that laws are contextual and responsive to the public developmental aspirations and needs of the community and the nation at large. From the above discussion, it is clear that M&E has a strategic role in governance. Without timely, reliable information, it is difficult to make informed decisions, formulate evidence-based public policy, have an effective and efficient public spending system, and support responsive laws and policies. Therefore, the next section proposes what should be done in order to promote and uphold the role of M&E in governance issues.

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