Result Based Monitoring and Evaluation of Development Projects Course

Introduction

Monitoring and evaluation helps track project performance at any given time and provides reasons for an observed project status. In addition, understanding how approaches in Monitoring and Evaluation can be modified or enhanced to optimize positive impact on the intended beneficiaries is important. This five-day course is aimed at providing an overview of results-based monitoring and evaluation methods particularly in projects.

The course covers the principles and practices for results based monitoring and evaluation. This course equips participants with skills in setting up and implementing results based monitoring and evaluation systems. The participants will benefit from the latest M&E practices including the results and participatory approaches. This course will bring learning to practice for participants to learn about the results levels and their linkage with indicators and techniques for tracking and assessing the progress of a project with the aim of achieving long term results.

Duration

5 Days

Course Objectives

Participants will gain confidence to apply the acquired skills and knowledge to their M&E work

Participants will be able to share and learn from other country experiences to strengthen their M&E systems in projects.

Participants will have an improved understanding of how M&E can improve the quality of their projects while promoting learning and accountability

Participants will also learn how to be better managers and consumers of evaluations conducted by others Determine the relevant stakeholders involved in monitoring and evaluation of projects

Clarify key project results levels

Design a project using logical framework

Develop indicators and targets for each result level

Track performance indicators over the life of the project

Evaluation a project against the set results

Develop and implement an M&E system

Develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan

Course Content

Introduction to Results Based Project Management

Fundamentals of Results Based Management

Why is RBM important?

Results based management vs traditional projects management

RBM Lifecycle (seven phases)

Areas of focus of RBM

Fundamentals of Monitoring and Evaluation

Definition of Monitoring and Evaluation

Why Monitoring and Evaluation is important

Key principles and concepts in M&E

M&E in project lifecycle

Participatory M&E

Design of Results in Monitoring and Evaluation

Results chain approaches

M&E causal pathway

Principles of planning, monitoring and evaluating for results

M&E Frameworks

Conceptual Framework

Results Framework

Logic Model

Logical Framework

Linking M&E Framework and M&E planning

M&E Indicators

Indicators definition

Indicator metrics

Linking indicators to results

Indicator matrix

Tracking of indicators

Logical Framework Approach

LFA – Analysis and Planning phase

Design of logframe

Risk rating in logframe

Horizontal and vertical logic in logframe

Using logframe to create schedules: Activity and Budget schedules

Using logframe as a project management tool

Theory of Change

Overview of theory of change

Developing theory of change

Theory of Change vs Log Frame

Case study: Theory of change

M&E Systems

What is an M&E System?

Elements of M&E System

Steps for developing Results based M&E System

M&E Planning

Importance of an M&E Plan

Documenting M&E System in the M&E Plan

Components of an M&E Plan-Monitoring, Evaluation, Data management, Reporting

Using M&E Plan to implement M&E in a Project

M&E Plan vs M&E Framework vs M&E System

Baseline Survey in Results based M&E

Importance of baseline studies

Process of conducting baseline studies

Baseline study vs evaluation

Project Performance Evaluation

Process and progress evaluations

Evaluation research design

Evaluation questions

Evaluation report Dissemination

Impact Evaluation

Why impact evaluation is important

Project attribution

Counterfactual in IE

Analysis techniques in IE;DID, PSM

M&E Data Management

Different sources of M&E data

Qualitative data collection methods

Quantitative data collection methods

Participatory methods of data collection

Data Quality Assessment

M&E Results Use and Dissemination

Stakeholder’s information needs

Use of M&E results to improve and strengthen projects

Use of M&E Lessons learnt and Best Practices

Organization knowledge champions

M&E reporting format

M&E results communication strategies