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PROJECT MONITORING AND EVALUATION

AND ITS IMPORTANCE
Published on July 21, 2015

Nandwa Muyuka Follow

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PROJECT CONSULTANT

PROJECTMONITORINGANDEVALUATIONANDITSIMPORTANCE

MONITORING

Thisistheregularsystematiccollectionandanalysisofinformationtotrackthe
progressofprogramimplementationagainstpresettargetsandobjectives.Itaimsto
answerthequestiondidwedeliver?

MonitoringClarifiesprogramobjectives,Linksactivitiesandtheirresourcesto
objectives,Translatesobjectivesintoperformanceindicatorsandsetstargets,Routinely
collectsdataontheseindicators,comparesactualresultswithtargets

AndReportsprogresstomanagersandalertsthemtoproblems

Monitoringgivesinformationonwhereapolicy,programorprojectisatanygiventime
(orovertime)relativetorespectivetargetsandoutcomes.Monitoringfocusesin
particularonefficiency,andtheuseofresources.

Whilemonitoringprovidesrecordsofactivitiesandresults,andsignalsproblemstobe
remediedalongtheway,itisdescriptiveandmaynotbeabletoexplainwhyaparticular
problemhasarisen,orwhyaparticularoutcomehasoccurredorfailedtooccur.

Evaluationdealswithquestionsofcauseandeffect.Itisassessingorestimatingthe
value,worthorimpactofaninterventionandistypicallydoneonaperiodicbasis
perhapsannuallyorattheendofaphaseofaprojectorprogram.

EVALUATION

Thisistheobjectiveassessmentofanongoingorrecentlycompletedproject,program
orpolicy,itsdesign,implementationandresults.ItanswersthequestionWhathas
happenedasaresult?

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EvaluationAnalyzeswhyintendedresultswereorwerenotachieved,Assessesspecific
casualcontributionsofactivitiestoresults,Examinesimplementationprocess,Explores
unintendedresults,Provideslessons,highlightssignificantaccomplishmentsorprogram
potentialandoffersrecommendationsforimprovement

Evaluationlooksattherelevance,effectiveness,efficiencyandsustainabilityofan
intervention.Itwillprovideevidenceofwhytargetsandoutcomesareorarenotbeing
achievedandaddressesissuesofcausality.

THEIMPORTANCEOFMONITORING&EVALUATION

Monitoringandevaluation(M&E)helpsthoseinvolvedwithanytypeofprojectsto
assessifprogressdesiredisbeingachieved.

M&Ebenefitsthekeyactorsinvolvedincommunitydevelopmentinthefollowing
ways:
Forprojectexecutors(i.e.,acompanyCommunityRelationsTeam,acompany/NGO
partnership,oracompanyfoundation),M&Ecanimprovemanagement.Bymonitoring
progressagainstdefinedgoals,aprojectmanagercanassesswhatisworkingandwhat
isnot,andfromtherecandeterminewhatchangesshouldbemadetoaproject.This
inturnmakesitpossibletoimprovethewaythingsarebeingdoneintheproject
organization.

Forcompanies,whetherexecutingaprojectorsupportingitthroughpartnershipor
funding,M&Ecanbeusedtodemonstrateprogresstointernalmanagementandto
externalstakeholders.Internally,measurableresultscanjustifycontinuedfundingand
clarifythereturnoninvestmentofcommunitydevelopmenteffortstomanagersand
shareholders.Externally,theresultsofM&Ecandemonstratecommitmenttoand
competenceincommunitydevelopment,andthushelpacompanymaintainitssocial
licensetooperate.Thismakesthecompaniestomakesounddecisionsconcerningmajor
projectsundertakenandtoknowwheretoinvest.

ForcommunitymembersandNGOs,participatinginM&Eisanopportunityto
influencethedesignandexecutionofcommunitydevelopmentprojects.Furthermore,
byprovidingfeedbackonwhetherprogramsareachievingaimsinlinewithcommunity
needsanddesires,M&Eisapowerfulaccountabilitymechanism.

(Ournextarticleonchallengesinmonitoringandevaluationcoming
soon)

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Nandwa Muyuka
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PROJECT CONSULTANT
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Festus Sikazwe 3d
Civil Engineer
Great article. I'm studying project planning and management. What books can I use suitable for
projects within Africa?
Like Reply

Jane M. Kuluo 1w
Senior Program Assistant at Global Aairs Canada (GAC)
Great job! Both processes for sure helps in improving performance and achieving results.
Like Reply

There are 13 other comments.Show more.

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