Monitoring and Evaluation is an intrinsic part of the program cycle. In order to improve the work that we do, we need to look to see whether our program is achieving its intended results, and if not, we need to modify our actions. Monitoring and evaluation helps us to keep track of whether we are on track, and provides information to help us steer the program towards a desired direction. Of Course, monitoring and evaluation also has a role outside the program cycle, and that concerns communicating the results to others. 

The program begins with the basics of monitoring and evaluation and explores the relationship between this and adaptive management. Following an overview of the theory behind these approaches, participants progress through a series of hands-on activities that allow them to apply the tools of learning-based monitoring and evaluation to their current work. Throughout this training, participants will be invited to develop a comprehensive MERI (monitoring, evaluation, reporting and improvement) plan for a topic of their choice.

At the end of the week participants will present this MERI plan and choose a step of MERI to implement over the next three months. Participants will be invited to re-group after 3 months and share their experiences of applying these concepts in the work place.

Content:

Module 1: Introduction to Learning Based Evaluation
Module 2: Theory of Change
Module 3: Meaningful Monitoring and Most Significant Change technique
Module 4: Strategic Evaluation Studies
Module 5: Reporting and Improvement

Review:Presentation and review of work place projects 3 months after course

Module 1: Introducing Learning based Monitoring and Evaluation

Effective evaluation is critical to informed decision making. This module provides a broad introduction to monitoring and evaluation, reporting and improvement (MERI) and offers a set of practical steps for developing a MERI plan.

Module 2: Theory of Change

Theory of Change (sometimes called Program Logic) is a simplified model of expected cause-and-effect relationships between activities, immediate changes, intermediate outcomes and final outcomes. Theory of Change is best seen as a thinking tool that helps teams to consider how outcomes can best be achieved, articulate a clear narrative for the choice of interventions, and later to help monitor, evaluate and report on progress. This module introduces the Theory of Change concept and lays out a step by step process for creating a model.

Module 3: Meaningful Monitoring and Most Significant Change

In this module participants will focus on how to manage for the ongoing collection of information that is meaningful to those delivering the program and collecting the data.

The Most Significant Change (MSC) approach is a participatory process that compliments an indicator based monitoring systems by tracking unexpected outcomes and also has important benefits for organisational effectiveness. MSC is a qualitative, participatory process that involves the collection of ‘stories’ of change then involves all project stakeholders in deciding the sorts of change to be recorded.

Module 4: Strategic Evaluation Studies

There is a natural tendency when planning an evaluation study to jump in and immediately consider the methods of data collection to be used; however in practice this should be one of the last steps of an evaluation plan. In this module participants will focus on the importance of initially clarifying the purpose of the evaluation. We will examine the basics of evaluation design and taste test a number of qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection including semi-structured interviews, focus groups, global assessment scaling, questionnaires, and participant observation techniques.

Module 5: Reporting and Improvement

One of the big failings in monitoring and evaluation is that teams do not analyse and reflect on the information that is generated. In this module participants will gain a clear understanding of how to close the loop and use evaluative information to improve not only the program but also the evaluation framework itself. After examining effective reporting mechanisms the training program will conclude with a reflective session on managing change, optimal decision making and how this leads to continuous improvement through informed decision making.