Advanced monitoring and evaluation of projects
Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) is progressively becoming a specialized area of practice. Having progressed from activity scheduling and implementation to output and now outcome and impact focused evaluations, it is now acknowledged that robust monitoring and evaluation must be evidence-based; inform and influence policy and aid decision making at project, programme and organisational level.
Global shift toward accountability and value for money by donors towards agencies and governments has made M&E capacity development a priority for many countries. M&E is linked to an increase in performance reporting and a much more focus on programme/project outputs and outcomes and, today, keen emphasis is placed on result based evaluation in the public sector. Strong demand from decision makers for evidence often stimulates the supply side of evidence based data for decision making and continuous improvements in policy, programme and project designs.
The starting point of engaging in sound M&E is a well packaged programme or project appraisal document. The theory of change must be well documented in the project document. Indicators that would be used for M&E also need to be well designed and capacity for M&E strengthened to support programme-wide M&E. The M&E system must also be well designed and the questions to be answered through the M&E clarified. Having all these in place requires a set of skills which must be well coordinated for smooth implementation of M&E.
This course is aimed at those with experience of monitoring and evaluation and will build upon prior knowledge and experience to address complex M&E challenges. The training will develop the participants’ skills and understanding of M&E and will provide a blend of practical examples, case studies and opportunities to share ideas and experiences with the course facilitators.
Participants will acquire practical knowledge in monitoring and evaluation of projects and programmes. They will be able to demonstrate the understanding and application of monitoring and evaluation in project implementation and learn how to utilize the M&E results to improve programme and project designs.
By the end of the training participants will:
- Have developed a deeper understanding of the characteristics of effective M&E
- Acquired knowledge on how to design M&E systems
- Have reviewed approaches to planning for M&E, including Theory of Change, and explored some of the challenges with these
- Be able to select and use appropriate data collection methods and tools effectively and understood the merits and demerits of various qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques
- Have considered principles and steps in data analysis and the issue of quality of evidence
- Have explored ways to address issues around impact assessment and the M&E of outcomes and impact
- Have considered their own role in bringing about improved M&E within their projects, programmes and organisations
- Have known how to use M&E results to inform policy
- Have acquired skills to design M&E questions and collect as well as analyse data to answer the M&E questions
The suggested course content is as follows:
- Monitoring Concepts and Rationale for M&E
- Basic Introduction to the Monitoring & Evaluation Framework
- Develop M&E plans and indicators,
- Developing Results Based Monitoring and Evaluation system,
- M&E Data Collection, processing and Analysis,
- Monitoring tools and techniques,
- Designing M&E Systems and frameworks, Evaluation terms of reference,
- Evaluation methods and techniques and checklist preparation
- M&E Report Writing (basically evaluation report writing) and
- Review of Evaluation Reports.
- M&E software
US$ 1600 to cover tuition and training materials only