PREFINALS #1: Monitoring & Evaluation

Question 1

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Answer 1

— a process of continued gathering of information and its analysis, in order to determine whether progress is being made towards pre-specified goals and objectives
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— highlights whether there are any unintended (positive or negative) effects from a project/programme and its activities.

Question 2

It is a continuous process of collecting, analyzing, documenting, and reporting
information on progress to achieve set project objectives, identifies trends and patterns.

Answer 2

MONITORING

Question 3

It is a periodic assessment, as systematic and objective as possible, of an ongoing or completed project. The aim is to determine the relevance of objectives.

Answer 3

EVALUATION

Question 4

Purpose/Importance of Monitoring and Evaluation

Answer 4

1) Support project/programme implementation with accurate, evidence-based reporting
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2) Contribute to organizational learning and knowledge by reflecting upon experiences
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3) Uphold accountability and compliance if work has been carried out with established standards
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4) Provide opportunities for stakeholder feedback
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5) Promote and celebrate project/program work by highlighting accomplishments
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6) Strategic management to inform setting and adjustment of objectives.
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7) Build the capacity, self-reliance and confidence stakeholders

Question 5

Characteristics of monitoring and evaluation

Answer 5

• Monitoring tracks changes in program performance or key outcomes over time by:
  1) Conducted continuously
  2) Keeps track
  3) Documents and analyzes progress
  4) Focuses on program inputs, activities and outputs
  5) Looks at processes of program implementation
  6) Considers program results
  7) Considers continued relevance of program activities
  8) Reports on implemented program activities
  9) Reports on achieved immediate results
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• Evaluation is a systematic approach to attribute changes in specific outcomes to program activities.
  1) Conducted at important program milestones
  2) Provides in-depth analysis
  3) Compares planned with actual achievements
  4) Looks at processes used to achieve results
  5) Considers results at outcome level
  6) Considers overall relevance of program activities
  7) References implemented activities
  8) Reports on how and why results were achieved
  9) Contributes to building theories and models for change
  10) Attributes program inputs and outputs to observed changes in program outcomes
  and/or impact

Question 6

Key benefits of Monitoring and Evaluation

Answer 6

• Provide regular feedback on project performance and show any need for ‘midcourse’ corrections.
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• Identify problems early and propose solutions.
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• Monitor access to project services and outcomes by the target population.
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• Evaluate achievement of project objectives.
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• Incorporate stakeholder views and promote participation, ownership and
  accountability.
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• Improve project and programme design through feedback provided from baseline,
  mid-term, terminal and ex-post evaluations.
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• Inform and influence organizations through analysis of the outcomes and impact.
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• Provide the evidence basis for building consensus between stakeholders