Programme Monitoring & Evaluation

Monitoring: in this Guide we define Monitoring as the ongoing collection and analysis of programme information by the programme manager from programme stakeholders and its beneficiaries. The aim is to check whether the planned inputs are used, the planned activities are completed and whether the planned outputs are delivered. The focus is on the “programme” itself.

Evaluation: is a separate survey, collecting programme and outside information from programme insiders, stakeholders, beneficiaries and outside experts. The aim is to check whether the programme has contributed to the overall goal and purpose. The key focus is on longer term impact and it happens mostly after the end of the programme.

Programme monitoring and evaluation serve to control whether the implementation of the programme has achieved its outputs, objectives and purpose. It is further an important part of creating lasting donor and partner relations, because the monitoring and evaluation reports show that the resources and other support given to the programme were (hopefully) well used.

In parallel to the evaluation of the institution management, the programme evaluation leads to "lessons learned" and identifying improvement areas that are important for the development of the institution as a whole and for similar programmes. This issue will be highlighted in the Synthesis.