Figuring out how and when to design a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan could be quite tricky, we agree! But with the right approach, and some helpful tips and tricks from the experts, you could have a lot of fun and success in planning and implementing M&E into your projects.
So, if you are someone working in the non-profit sector, including NGOs, INGOs, Foundations or Social Enterprises, our top ten tips from the in-house experts could be beneficial. Learn about a favorable time to incorporate M&E into your project, how to choose the right M&E tools and methodologies, the crucial role of indicators and more!
Very interesting. The subject is well summarized and allows to learn best practices in monitoring and evaluation. Your site is a real training tool for the monitoring and evaluation profession.
Very good article. I wish to add another important elements ” 1) M&E staffing” is key for the success of M&E system. It is better to have experienced staff who have multidimensional skills who will lead the M&E processes within organizations
2) Budget: It is better to have M&E budget at least 10% of overall project budget. In many cases, organizations do not set aside M&E budget and or allocate insignificant amount
Thank you for your comment, Celestin Nsengiyumva. We completely agree with your points – staffing and budget are definitely crucial for the success of any M&E system. We have included those points, plus more in our recent article “M&E Plan for NGOs.”
https://www.toladata.com/blog/monitoring-and-evaluation-plan/
This is very informative and powerfully. The important aspect you add in the CLA. How do the project team or stakeholders use CLA approach for successful programming? How do teams come up with learning and evaluation questions? And they can integrate CLA and learning questions in their work plans and reflection sessions?
Thank you for supporting our work, Acamango Vicky. We look forward to exploring and adapting the “Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA)” practices into our upcoming articles to help our readers/users improve their development effectiveness.
Can these steps of monitoring and evaluation system also apply in Education
Absolutely, Hilda!
Wow!!! Thank you Celestin
My concern is , can we talk about M&E ni government organizations?! I wish to get contribution for any one with experience. Thank you
These are very important points.
One important part of a successful M&E process is also if we can learn from it. If it can inform evidence-based decisionmaking. So that we shift M&E from being data-centric to learning-centric.
Absolutely agree with your point, Walter! We have added a new point to the list as per your recommendation – “making full utilization of M&E results.”
I like the ten steps offered by Toladata for setting up M&E Plans for an organisation. Let me add that to point number 7, that the M&E staff should share information and roles with their team; especially with the limitations now caused by the pandemic. I find that traveling to branch offices has to become limited and yet team members may not know which data to collect and post to support the M&E function. Therefore M&E officials need communication, interpersonal and training g skills or attributes to help them build a good working relationship. However, the top management should be supportive to this team approach.
The topic is excellent. Please share any good example of an M&E framework and M&E Systems (web-based platform) for SDG 2 for multi-agency and multi-projects, as a reference for teaching and research. Thank you.