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.

Course 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.

Course Outlines

Module 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.

Module 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

Module 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

Module 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

Module 5

• Designing evaluations
• Planning and managing evaluations
• Disseminating and using evaluation results
• Designing monitoring systems for programs
• Implementing program monitoring systems
• Managing data quality