Demystifying M&E: A Primer

Jennifer Lentfer of how-matters.org

1. De-technicalize language.

ROADMAP TO

MONITORING

What are we

trying to change?

Where do we

want to get to?

How are we

going to get

there?

What do we expect to

happen along the way? OUTPU

TOUTCOME

IMPACT

How do we know we are on the

right road?proble

m analysi

s

goals, objecti

ves

strategy,

activities

RESULTSindicat

ors, baselin

e, targets

OUTPUT

OUTCOME

IMPACT

ACTIVITIES

Have the activities

taken place?

The very first result

of an activity.

Organizations have direct control

over this result.

What happened

next?

Change of behavior in participant

s.

Organizations have

less control over this result.

So what?

Change at population/

societal level.

Organizations have

very little control, if

any.RESULT

S

2. Understand the concepts behind the terms.

Making M&E Accessible

EXAMPLES

Monitoring Evaluation

Ongoing process Event that occurs periodically

Recordkeeping/Tracking Activities Analyzing results

Observing trends Assessing impact

Mainly descriptive, recording inputs, outputs, and activities (e.g. How many children received supplementary school feeding?)

More analytical and examines processes (e,g. Did implementing school feeding successfully increase attendance levels?)

Allows us to make adjustments or corrective actions in a project

Informs future programming for all stakeholders

Data collection is part of day-to-day management & activities

Additional, special data may be collected using research methodologies

Is objective and systematic Is objective and systematic

3. Know the difference.

M&E: What’s the Difference?

We monitor… We evaluate…1. A child’s height and weight. 1. Whether children are growing

at a normal rate.2. The number of weekly visits to

chronically ill people.2. The effectiveness of home-

based care.3. The number of families

planting improved crop varieties.

3. An increase/ decrease in food security.

4.  The number of people trained in human rights.

4.  Whether reports of human rights abuses have increased or decreased and why.

EXERCISE

Cost

Complexity

Existing records

(e.g. household

lists)

Routinestatistics

Focus groups

Specific samplesurveys

Key informantinterviews

Observation

Special or ’point’ studies

Keep expectations realistic.

4. Make conscientious

methodology decisions.

Remember:

You do not fatten a calf by weighing it.

~English proverb

Good luck in your M&E efforts!

5. Keep your eye on the prize.