Monitoring and Evaluation Course africa

Monitoring and Evaluation Course

Monitoring and Evaluation Course ME 006 (Pretoria, South Africa)

Background

Many projects fail to be successfully completed, among other things, due to lack of understanding of the need for monitoring and evaluation. Huge sums of money are put into projects and it is important to get value for money. Two aspects that contribute towards ensuring this are monitoring and evaluation. Monitoring is the ongoing assessment of a project/programme in line with set implementation plans. Evaluation is the systematic, time specific and objective determination of the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact of a project/programme which is performed to judge whether a project has reached its goal of delivering what was expected according to its original plan in achieving stated objectives.

Course Description This course provides participants with an introduction to monitoring and evaluation. The course is designed for individuals who are new to the field of monitoring and evaluation and/or those who wish to strengthen their existing understanding which has been developed through work based experience. The course considers important concepts and activities from project inception through to outcome evaluation and additionally includes valuable project management techniques.

 
  • Government officials
  • Senior managers in NGOs
  • Project team members
  • Project Managers
  • Monitoring and evaluation officials
  • Policy makers, and regulators working on projects
  • Any persons interested in monitoring and evaluation

The course helps participants:

  • Understand what is meant by monitoring and evaluation
  • Develop an understanding of when and how to use recognized tools and techniques for monitoring and evaluation
  • Gain an understanding of a monitoring and evaluation process
  • Develop awareness of how to manage monitoring and evaluation stakeholders
  • Understand M&E tools, methods and approaches
  • Develop skills to design evaluation questions for different types of evaluations
  • Understand the link between M&E and project management
1. Introduction
  • Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation
    • What is Monitoring and what is Evaluation?
  • Goals, Objectives, and M&E Questions
  • Goal vs objectives
  • SMART Objectives
  • Developing Monitoring and Evaluation Questions
    • questions to be answered through M&E
2. Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation Framework
  • M&E design
  • Monitoring
  • Three main domains in a monitoring system:
  • Inputs
  • Process-Set of activities
  • Outputs
    • Evaluation
  • Outcomes
  • Impact
    • Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
    • Monitoring and evaluation stages
    • Levels of Monitoring and Evaluation and Responsibilities
  • Roles and responsibilities
  • Collecting Different Types of Monitoring Data
    • Individual project dimension
    • Program dimension
    • Core components of an M&E system
  • 3. Indicators
    • Performance questions, information needs and indicators
    • Understanding indicators for M&E
    • Collecting, analyzing, and using monitoring data
  • Selecting Indicators: Tested, reliable, accurate, valid, sensitive, affordable and feasible indicators
    • Stakeholder considerations
    • An indicator matrix
    • Indicators and means of verification
    • Linking indicators to baselines, milestones and targets
  • 4. Tools, Methods and Approaches for Monitoring and Evaluation
    • Tools for M&E
    • Methods for M&E
    • M&E Approaches
    5. M&E Work Plan
    • Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
    • Outline of M&E Work Plan
    • Monitoring and Evaluation Matrix
    6. Project Planning and Monitoring and Evaluation
    • Project Management and M&E
    • Planning for learning and adaptation during implementation
    • How initial Project Design Influences M&E
    • Planning for M&E
    • Seeing M&E as a system
    • Project Cycle Management

    The training approach is highly interactive. It uses a mixture of presentations by the facilitator and by participant(s), group or individual exercises, use of case studies and role plays. These proven learning techniques enhance understanding and retention of covered issues