Monitoring & Evaluation

This is pretty heavy topic. As a new NGO it has become necessary to create the framework within which we want to work. Although this is quite similar to the one of Enviu in the Netherlands it is important to stipulate our road map for both internal and external purposes. Bit by bit we are trying to finish this for the end of the month. The mission and vision have been formulated, we have written up our geographical focus areas, our approach and we have stipulated 4 organizational objectives. Based on this we have formulated our core business.

Now its time to see whether this can be evaluated or monitored. What will be the impact. Although i think it is fairly straight forward to set up some simple qualitative and quantitative measurables, i am not so sure what they will say about the effectiveness or impact of the program. I want to know this, and would not feel comfortable without having at least some idea about it. Can this be measured? I have looked through a lot of NGO websites to get some inspiration, but have found that none really mention how they monitor their activities.

What i did find was some literature on the topic which has been useful so far. For a start i have seen that we all face the same issue. Secondly, this is the topic a large amounts of research and investigation, thirdly, there are many different proposed methods. The best literature i have found come from the big institutions like USAid, and the following interesting website; www.mande.co.uk.

At first glance it seems that we have to design two levels of monitoring and evaluation. The first responds to the objectives, and if we are reaching our objectives. The second responds to our impact. The latter is a little more difficult to measure although initial indications recommend a scorecard system which will allow for comparison over time. In both cases it is important that the evaluation process is participatory in that it include our stakeholders and a consensus is found between opinions. This is actually how our last evaluation was taken forward about a year ago.

Ok, well ill keep going and see what i come up with.