Advanced Monitoring and Evaluation

Course details

Objective

• Develop a deeper understanding of the characteristics of effective M&E and M&E systems
• Review approaches to planning for M&E, including Theory of Change, and explore some of the challenges 
• Select and use appropriate data collection methods and tools effectively
• Explore debates around newer qualitative and participatory approaches
• Consider principles and steps in data analysis and the issue of quality of evidence
• Explore ways to address issues around impact assessment and the M&E of outcomes and impact
• Consider the Managers' role in bringing out M&E within their projects, programs and organizations

Outline

Understanding influences on monitoring and evaluation strategy
A consideration of internal and external influences which drive the project definition and the approach taken towards monitoring
and evaluation projects.

Developing a Business Case to support monitoring and evaluation
An in depth consideration as to what should be included in a business case to get approval for monitoring and evaluation projects.
Financial and non-financial elements are considered. Since many of the benefits identified may be intangible, consideration is given as to how this can be effectively presented in a manner that is appealing to the Project Sponsor.

Developing a stakeholder management and communication strategy
This session addresses the challenge of understanding and managing the needs and expectations of multiple stakeholders. Consideration is given to methods of identifying and analyzing the stakeholders before determining the most appropriate way of managing and communicating with them throughout the monitoring and evaluation lifecycle.

Effective requirements gathering for monitoring and evaluation
A consideration of the various techniques available to elicit requirements together with the attributes of a good requirement. Further consideration will be given as to how to manage requirements and ensure requirements are traceable.

Determining Critical Success Factors and Key Performance Indicators
An evaluation as to what is meant by Critical Success Factors and Key Performance Indicators, how these relate to organization and local objectives and how to ensure a balanced range of measures is achieved.

Modelling the current and future state
In order to effectively define and communicate the change that will be delivered, a range of models will be considered that help to
define the current situation and how this will be improved through the monitoring and evaluation project.

Scope and change management
It is vital that the scope of the project is fully understood and that change is managed so as to avoid this causing a monitoring and
evaluation project to fail. This session considers scope management techniques available to the practitioner, common causes of
change and a stable change control process that can be used to manage requests for change.

Identifying and delivering sustainable impacts
Since the most effective projects are sustainable, consideration is given as to questions that must be asked to determine how sustainable an impact will be. A resource audit is used to look at local capacity and capability and to provide an indication of further support that may be required from the delivery organization.

Effectively leading a monitoring and evaluation project
Monitoring and evaluation projects require effective leadership. The fourth day starts with a consideration of the attributes of an
effective leader and leadership theories that can be applied in a practical way to improve project performance.

Managing a team through the monitoring and evaluation lifecycle
Monitoring and evaluation projects involve a range of people who enable the project to be successful. This session considers how to manage a team effectively, how to get the members to support the change that is being delivered and how to ensure the team is more skilled at the end of the project than at the commencement.

Creating a learning culture within monitoring and evaluation
Organizations and individuals must commit to learning from conception to closure. This session of the course promotes the benefits of continuous learning and development and methods that can be used to prove this contributes to project success. Updated on 16 May, 2024