Introduction

Monitoring and Evaluation are increasingly identified as the cornerstone for efficacious program management and are essential for organizational sustainability. A continuously increasing need for suitably skilled monitoring and evaluation project managers has been identified as a priority area by various stakeholders active in different sectors and industries, as an example; globally-funded sponsorships often require evidence of effective monitoring and evaluation systems before awarding funds.
The Advanced Monitoring and Evaluation training course aims to provide managers and M&E officers across different sectors with advanced skills and knowledge to successfully design and implement monitoring and evaluation systems from program/project initiation to close-out.
This program is structured in such a way that it guides learners to apply monitoring and evaluation principles within the context of their unique work environment.

Objectives

After completion of this qualification, participants will be able to:

• Master key principles of monitoring and evaluation relevant to implementing projects and programs

• Apply results-based management principles

• Explain and apply the value of a Theory of Change and Logical Framework in monitoring and evaluation

• Learn how to undertake a stakeholder mapping and analysis for monitoring and evaluation purposes

• Design monitoring frameworks

• Manage data quality

• Conduct routine data quality assessments

• Identify indicators for projects and programs

• Demonstrate the ability to use and report on monitoring data

• Plan and conduct an evaluation

• Study practical considerations in selecting appropriate evaluation designs and methods for data collection

• Construct an organizational learning agenda and identify evaluation priorities and questions

• Apply evaluation ethics 

• Acquire skills in developing practical sampling and data analysis strategies

• Plan for resources needed for an evaluation

• Develop a Terms of Reference for evaluations

• Learn key steps in ensuring effective communication and utilization of evaluation findings

Target Audience

Any individual that is presently operating in a monitoring and evaluation role who has identified a need to further develop their monitoring and evaluation knowledge and skills, in addition to their current vocational focus, e.g. a manager whose performance agreement demands the effective design and management of monitoring and evaluation system for a program or organization.

Outlines

Day 1

• Introduction to monitoring and evaluation principles and concepts

• Programme Logic Models and Theory of Change

• Analysing and reporting monitoring data for decision making

• M&E in the context of the 2030 National Plan

• Results-Based Management – history, meaning, context.

Day 2

• Problem analysis tools and techniques

• The theory of change

• Developing a results chain

• Linking and testing the relationship between the theory of change and the results chain

• Linking the log frame and budget

• The meaning and types of result

• Defining results and indicators

Day 3

• Structure and types of indicators

• Design an M&E framework

• Monitoring the M&E framework

• Communicating the M&E framework

• Understanding the roles of key practitioners in the maintenance of the framework

• Facilitate team performance improvements using assessment findings;

• Establish performance standards and monitoring systems – linking individual and organizational processes

Day 4

• Understand methods and tools for basic data collection;

• Understand methods and tools for basic data analysis;

• Understand the key uses of monitoring data: project management, evaluation, and reporting;

• Understand the difference between process and outcome evaluation practices; and

• Develop project evaluation reports.

• The outcomes-based approach and strategic planning

• Problem analysis -understanding the context, assumptions, and challenges

Day 5

• Designing evaluations

• Planning and managing evaluations

• Disseminating and using evaluation results

• Designing monitoring systems for programs

• Implementing program monitoring systems

• Managing data quality