NTG Local Decision Making (LDM): Ground Up Monitoring and Evaluation

In 2021, the NT Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet (DCMC) engaged the Ground Up team at the Northern Institute to initiate Monitoring and Evaluation research in sites with active Local Decision Making agreements – Ngukurr, Alice Springs Town Camps, Jawoyn Region, the Groote Archipelago and Kalkaringi.

The Ground Up research team has long-term experience working under local elder authority and with local researchers to develop processes of M&E. In all sites we negotiated local M&E processes with local elders and organisations, and engaged local researchers where this was possible and considered appropriate.

Purpose of the Project:

To work with the Northern Territory Government, and with Aboriginal Elders and community members involved in LDM negotiations and transitions, to monitor and evaluate the NTG Local Decision Making policy in places where these agreements are active. Including:

• Talking with people about their experiences of being involved in the LDM process
• Learning about understandings of local decision making, and how the practices and processes of LDM agreements relate to these understandings  
• Learning about priority areas identified within active LDM agreements, and how these were arrived at
• Understanding how local people and organisations have worked with government staff, agencies and departments and vice versa
• Identifying benefits and challenges that have come along with the LDM agreement, and how further improvements may be made