Project Design and Implementation: Developing a Useful Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

Reasons for Monitoring and Evaluationat the Project Level

To help ensure the project achieves expected environmental benefits

Can be useful for guiding project progressAssure monies properly spentBring insights to project manager to build

his/her capacity for better project implementation

economic economic and and

political political realitiesrealities

What constitutes project success?

Training complete,

Strategy and Action Plan Developed

New Methodology produced,

Publications produced,

Network Established,

PROJECT SUCCESS?

– but …… Success to whom?

– Of what environmental value?

Monitoring Project Performance

Examples of Performance Indicators

- quantitative + qualitative -

Performance must show actual environmental benefit measured by hectares conserved, quantified greenhouse gas emission reductions, etc.

Other Performance indicators could include performance in relation to relevance

– Relevance of outputs to stakeholders/users

– Relevance of work to national development

– Utility of output in achieving environmental change on the ground

Developing a M&E Plan

How does an M&E plan get developed?

Performance indicator should be developed with stakeholders/clients

Monitoring indicator achievement – how?:

– analysis of views of stakeholders who should/could be using project’s outputs, through interviews with informants, through surveys…..

Normally monitoring stays within a closed system yet outputs are relevant to a wider audience.

.…….

COMMON WEAKNESSES IN M&E PLANS

NO MONITORING OF INDICATORS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE, INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE, UTILITY OF OUPUTS, UTILITY OF CAPACITY GAINED,

…..;

NO ASSIGNMENT OF ACCOUNTABILITIES & RESPONSIBILITIES;

NO POST-PROJECT MONITORING

Monitoring and Evaluation Project Plan

M&E Plan, covering monitoring and evaluation at three levels:

1. execution performance,

2. output delivery,

3. project impact.

1. Execution Performance:– Management and Supervision of project– Responsibility of project management

unit– Supervision by the Steering Committee– Responsibility of project manager

Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

2. Output delivery– Timing of outputs e.g. publications, etc– Quantity– Quality: Peer review process – Distribution– Responsibilities

Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

3. Project Impact– Measuring outcomes– Log frame:

• Indicators

• How to measure indicators • Target values for each year• Source of data : baseline + current• Responsibilities for measurement – who does it?

Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

• Process Indicators – peer reviewed assessment;• Stress Reduction Indicators – priorities to replicate best practice identified; Legal framework established;• Environmental Status Indicators - actual measurable environmental change; activities to replicate methodologyOr best practices under implementation.

Impact indicatorsImpact indicators

Pressure-state-effect-response (causal chain) what measures are taken in which part of the chain?

Issues related to project impact Issues related to project impact monitoringmonitoring

Monitoring system to be included in the project - is it budgeted for?

Baseline setting - who pays and how?

Target setting - how?Capacity building impacts - what

indicators and how to measure?