Introduction to M&E
M&E concepts
By Francisco Singano

Objectives of the presentation
What is M&E
Why it is important
Identify the basic purposes and scope of M&E
Differentiate between monitoring and evaluation
Identify the main components of an M&E plan

Monitoring & Evaluation
• Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) is about collecting, storing,
analyzing and finally transforming data into strategic information so it
can be used to make informed decisions for program management
and improvement, policy formulation, and advocacy.

What is Monitoring?
• Monitoring is the routine process of data collection and measurement
of progress toward program objectives.
 It involves tracking what is being done and routinely looking at the
following;
1. Types and levels of resources used;
2. The activities conducted;
3. The products and services generated by these activities,
4. The quality of services;
5. The outcomes of these services and products.

Monitoring

Monitoring
• An ongoing, continuous process
• Requires the collection of data at multiple points throughout the
program cycle, including at the beginning to provide a baseline
• Can be used to determine if activities need adjustment during the
intervention to improve desired outcomes.

Understanding Monitoring
• Monitoring is sometimes referred to as process evaluation because it
focuses on the implementation process
Key Monitoring questions:
1. How well has the program been implemented?
2. How much does implementation vary from site to site?
3. Did the program benefit the intended people? At what cost?

Examples of program elements that can be
monitored
• Supply inventories
• Number of learning materials distributed
• Quality of service
• Service coverage (Number of schools reached with intervention)
• Pupil outcomes (pass rate, Number of child marriages ended.)

Evaluation
• A process that attempts to determine as systematically and
objectively as possible the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency,
sustainability and impact of activities in light of their objectives.
• measures how well the program activities have met expected
objectives and/or the extent to which changes in outcomes can be
attributed to the program or intervention.
• The difference in the outcome of interest between having or not
having the program or intervention is known as its "impact" and is
commonly referred to as "impact evaluation."

Evaluation

Understanding Evaluation
• Data collection begins at the start of a program (to provide a
baseline) and again at the end, rather than at repeated intervals
during program implementation
• A need for a control or comparison group in order to measure
whether the changes in outcomes can be attributed to the program
• Executed as well-planned study design

Monitoring or Evaluation? Discuss
• Check to see if you know whether the following situations call for
"monitoring" or "evaluation."
1. GENET wants to know if the programs being carried out in Mulanje
district are reducing unintended pregnancy among adolescents in
that district.
2. GENET wants to know how many school drop (girls from early
marriages) outs have been re enrolled into school by its program
this year.
3. A country director is interested in finding out if the teen clubs
interventions meet national standards of quality.

Answers
1. GENET wants to know if the programs being carried out in Mulanje district are
reducing unintended pregnancy among adolescents in that district.
This is evaluation because it is concerned with the impact of particular programs.
2. GENET wants to know how many school drop outs (girls from early marriages)
have been re enrolled into school by its program this year.
This is monitoring because it is concerned with counting the number of
something (girls reached).
3. A country director is interested in finding out if the teen clubs interventions meet
national standards of quality.
This is monitoring because it requires tracking something (quality of care).

Differences between monitoring and evaluation
• Refer to the PDF pager

Why is M&E important?
• Monitoring and evaluation helps program implementers:
1. Make informed decisions regarding program operations and service delivery based on
objective evidence
2. Ensure the most effective and efficient use of resources
3. Objectively assess the extent to which the program is having or has had the desired
impact.
4. It helps project implementers identify in what areas a project is effective
5. It help project manager identify areas of a project that corrections need to be
considered
6. It helps to meet organizational reporting and other requirements
7. It helps to convince donors that their investments have been worthwhile
8. It helps to signal need to consider alternative approaches in project implementation

Questions that M&E seek to answer
• Was the program implemented as planned?
• Did the target population benefit from the program and at what
cost?
• Can improved education outcomes be attributed to program efforts?
• Which program activities were more effective and which less
effective?

When should M&E take place?
• M&E is a continuous process that occurs throughout the life of a
program.
• To be most effective, M&E should be planned at the design stage of a
program, with the time, money, and personnel that will be required
calculated and allocated in advance.
• Monitoring should be conducted at every stage of the program, with
data collected, analyzed, and used on a continuous basis.
• Evaluations are usually conducted at the end of programs. However,
they should be planned for at the start because they rely on data
collected throughout the program, with baseline data being especially
important.

Did you know?
• One rule of thumb is that 5-10% of a project budget should be
allocated for M&E.

THE END
THANK YOU! (ZIKOMO)