MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

DESCRIPTION

Linking monitoring and evaluation to the planning and delivery of an organization’s work will increase its effectiveness. It will also enable staff to collect vital information not only for internal use but also for donors, users and other stakeholders.

This course aims to equip practitioners, project partners or external evaluators with the knowledge and expertise to be able to conduct their own planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting which is critical to any organization or government department involved in development projects and programmes. The course will be using the Logical Framework Approach, and will run in a workshop style with a high degree of participant involvement.

This course offers practical approach to planning work and implementing a monitoring and self-evaluation system. Using case studies and examples participants are offered the opportunity to apply their learning to their own projects. This course shows participants how to bring their learning together into a self-evaluation framework.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this program the participants will be able to :

Determine the effectiveness of HR plans, programs, policies, systems & procedures and their role in the organization’s strategic planning.
Prepare for and conduct an internal HR audit to ensure that your policies and procedures meet the business needs and minimize potential exposure
Implement cutting-edge processes to ensure the complete legal compliance of your HR function
Ensure management buy-in by providing compelling HR data, ensuring your HR function is a true strategic partner
Develop techniques to collect and extract critical HR information to improve the quality and effectiveness of your reporting
Measure the effectiveness of the organization’s procedures and how they impact on bottom line
Benchmark actual against desired performance and develop an action plan for addressing shortfalls.
Save money by identifying and correcting inefficiencies and compliance problems.
Reduces risk and liability.

PREREQUISITES

Participants should have a knowledge in monitoring evaluation principles.

TARGET AUDIENCE

The training workshop is designed for :

Middle and senior level project managers,
Monitoring and evaluation managers,
Project monitors, evaluators,
Team leaders and volunteers, who are directly or indirectly involved in monitoring and/or evaluating projects, or are expected to be engaged in such activities in future.
The training will be useful for participants from industry, social sector and development organizations, academia, International funding agencies, NGOs, consultants and public organizations.

PROGRAM OUTLINE

Introduction to Project Management

Project cycle management
Project planning & scheduling
Project risk and quality control
Stakeholder Management

The Project Cycle Framework

Project cycle Management
Role of Project Manager in Cycle Management
Defining Project Objectives and Strategies
Overview of Planning and Estimating
Preparing a Detailed Project Plan
Dealing with Project Risk and Uncertainty

Logical Framework Analysis

Concept of Logical framework
Problem Analysis
Objective Analysis
The Logical Framework Matrix
Log frame and M&E

Project Team Building and Stakeholders’ Participation
- Identifying and Supporting Team Members
- Communication and Documentation
- Relations with Stakeholders (Stakeholder Analysis)
Using M & E Manage for Impact

An overview of using M & E to manage impact
Managing and M & E
Guiding the project strategy for poverty impact
Creating a learning environment
Ensuring effective operations
Setting up and using the M & E system

Linking project Design, Annual Planning and M & E

An overview of linking project design annual planning & M & E
Designing for learning, empowerment and sustainability
Introducing the logical framework approach
Using the logical framework approach
From a log frame matrix to an annual work plan and budget
Outlining M & E during initial project design

Setting up the M & E System

Overview of setting up the M & E system
Key steps in setting up the M & E system
Documenting the M & E plan
Quality of your M & E and keeping it updated

Deciding what to Monitor and Evaluate

An overview of deciding what to monitor and evaluate

Knowing what you need to know
Using the M & E matrix for detailed planning
Being guided by performance questions
Focusing on key information and optimal indicators
Making comparisons and the role of baselines
Updating your information needs and indicators

Gathering, Managing and Communicating Information

An overview of gathering, managing and communicating information
Deciding which methods to use
Gathering data from the field
Collecting analysing and storing information
Communicating M & E finding for action and accountability

Putting in Place the necessary capacities and Conditions

An overview of putting in place the necessary capacities and Conditions
Human and institutional capacity
Incentives for M & E
Organizing M & E structures and responsibilities
Organizing the project’s system for managing information
Finances and resources to operate the M & E systems

M & E Matrix

Considerations when developing an M & E matrix
Core M & E activities in the example
The M & E matrix example

Methods for Monitoring and Evaluation

Sampling related methods
Core M & E methods
Discussion methods for groups
Methods for spatially distributed information
Methods for time based patters of change
Methods for analysing linkages and relationships
Methods for ranking and prioritizing

TRAINING METHODOLOGY

We use an interactive teaching and learning methodology that encourages self-reflection and promotes independent and critical thinking. The learning process is reinforced through the use of practice examples, questions and debate designed to stimulate a critical and questioning approach by delegates. A high level of delegates’ participation is encouraged to ensure that the conceptual knowledge and management skills acquired can be directly applied within the learner’s workplace.