Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) are essential components of good programme management at all levels as in State, District, Block. Monitoring & Evaluation covers assessment of programme inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes and impacts.
Although the term monitoring and evaluation tends to get run together as though they are one thing, monitoring & evaluation are in fact two distinct sets of departmental activities which are related but not identical.
Although the term monitoring and evaluation tends to get run together as though they are one thing, monitoring & evaluation are in fact two distinct sets of departmental activities which are related but not identical.
Monitoring:
- Is the systematic collection and analysis of information as a project progresses
- Is aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of a project or department
- Is based on targets set and activities planned during the planning phases of work
- Assesses the progress on a day-to-day basis and thus helps to keep the work on track
- Help to determine whether the resources available are sufficient and being well used
Provides a useful base for evaluation
Possible sources for Monitoring
- Case studies
- Recorded observation
- Diaries
- Recording & analysis of important incidents
- Structured questionnaires
- One-on-one interviews
- Focus groups
- Sample surveys
- Systematic review of relevant official statistics
Evaluation:
- Is the comparisiopn of actful project impacts against the agreed strategic plans.
- It looks at what the plan of the researcher
Evaluation helps:
- To identify problems and their causes
- Suggest possible solutions to problems
- Raise questions about assumptions and strategy
- Provide an information & insight
- Encourage to act on the information and insight
- Develop positive likeness for people
Monitoring & evaluation are focusing on
- Efficiency
- Effectiveness
- Impact
