Results-based monitoring, learning and evaluation represent an effective strategy for enabling policymakers and decision-makers to monitor progress and demonstrate the impact of projects, programmes, and policies. Unlike traditional implementation-focused monitoring and evaluation, results-based monitoring, learning, and evaluation shift the focus from inputs and outputs towards outcomes and impacts. This approach involves techniques for linking and tracking indicators to gauge a project’s progress towards achieving long-term results. The course provides participants with the necessary skills to establish and execute results-based monitoring, learning, and evaluation systems. Through the course, participants will gain insights into the latest practices in monitoring, learning, and evaluation, incorporating results-oriented and participatory approaches.

Target Participants

This course is designed for researchers, project staff, development practitioners, managers/decision makers and independent consultants who are responsible for project, programmes or policies monitoring, learning, and evaluation.

What you will learn

By the end of the course the learner should be able to:

• Identify the pertinent stakeholders engaged in project monitoring and evaluation
• Define the essential levels of project outcomes
• Design project using a logical framework
• Establish indicators and targets for each outcome level
• Monitor performance indicators throughout the project’s duration
• Assess the project against predefined outcomes
• Establish and execute a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system
• Formulate monitoring and evaluation plans

Course duration

5 days

Course Outline

Introduction to Project Management

• Introduction to project management
• Project cycle management
• Triple constraints in project management
• M&E in project management

Introduction to Monitoring, Learning, and Evaluation

• Definition of monitoring, learning, and evaluation
• Why monitoring, learning, and evaluation are important
• Key principles and concepts in monitoring, learning, and evaluation
• Monitoring, learning, and evaluation processes

Results-Based Management

• Introduction to a results-based management approach
• Steps in results-based management
• Application of results-based management in project design
• Understanding the results chain approach

Project Analysis

• Problem analysis
• Objectives analysis
• Strategy analysis

Project Logic Design

• Introduction to problem analysis
• Understanding M&E causal pathway
• Developing the project results levels: goal, outcomes, and output
• Formulating activities

Project Indicators

• Introduction to project indicator
• Indicator development
• Predefined indicators
• Linking indicators to results in programs
• Indicator matrix
• Program indicator performance tracking

Completing the M&E Tools

• Completing the logical framework
• Developing a theory of change
• Completing the performance measurement framework

Project Monitoring

• Introduction to programs monitoring
• Types of monitoring
• Monitoring strategies
• Tools for monitoring and performance measurement

M&E Reporting

• Introduction to reporting
• Key elements in progress reporting
• Reporting schedules

M&E Plan

• Introduction to M&E system and M&E Plan
• Components of the M&E Plan
• Developing the M&E Plan
• Implementing the M&E plan

Baseline Studies in Results-based M&E

• Importance of baseline studies
• Process of conducting baseline studies
• Baseline study vs evaluation

Project Evaluations

• Introduction to project evaluation
• Types of evaluations
• Process of conducting evaluation
• Project evaluation criteria
• Developing evaluation questions
• Developing evaluation matrix
• Evaluation Reporting

Overview of Impact Evaluation

• Introduction to impact evaluation
• Project attribution for the outcome of interest
• Impact evaluation designs

Learning in M&E

• Introduction to learning
• Documentation of lessons learned and best practices
• Use of learning to improve and strengthen projects
• M&E Results dissemination