Barriers to the Institutionalisation of outcome-based approaches in South Africa’s Public sector

Background: The adoption of outcome-based approaches (OBAs) in South Africa’s public sector aims to improve accountability, align policy with developmental priorities and enhance evidence-informed governance. Yet despite comprehensive frameworks such as the Government-Wide Monitoring and Evaluation System (GWM&ES) and National Evaluation Policy Framework (NEPF), implementation has remained fragmented and inconsistent. Aim: This study critically examines the systemic, operational and cultural barriers impeding the institutionalisation of OBA in South Africa and explores why these approaches remain policy ideals rather than operational realities. Setting: South Africa’s public sectors. Methods: Using a scoping review approach, the study reviewed policy documents, evaluation reports and peer-reviewed literature. Themes were identified using a structured coding process, allowing for analytical synthesis of institutional challenges. Results: Findings reveal persistent barriers, including institutional inertia, limited internal capacity, fragmented data systems and weak integration between evaluation, budgeting and planning. Additionally, cultural resistance to accountability undermines the use of evaluation for adaptive learning and policy reform. Conclusion: For OBA to be institutionalised meaningfully, South Africa must transition from compliance-based reporting to adaptive, learning-oriented governance. This includes integrating monitoring and evaluation (M&E) into fiscal planning cycles and investing in internal capacity to reduce reliance on consultants. Contribution: This study contributes to governance scholarship by offering a context-specific analysis of OBA failures and proposing actionable reforms. It shifts the discourse from policy intent to implementation dynamics and introduces a revised model for embedding OBA within South Africa’s developmental state paradigm.