I offer you advice, support and expertise in the following topics:
Monitoring and evaluation in the planning process: During the planning of projects and programs, it is often neglected to clarify what the participants will contribute to monitoring, which evaluation questions are at the center, and how the findings from monitoring and evaluation should be used in the course of implementation . The involvement of partners, stakeholders and target groups in the planning of monitoring and evaluation creates good conditions for a proactive, agile management of the project at all levels. Participatory approaches also promote the identification of those involved with the project goals, create trust and enable mutual learning on the ground.
Standard indicators: As specific as possible and as standardized as necessary - an indicator system should be built according to this principle. Good projects are integrated into larger programs and contribute to overarching development goals. Their performance and effects must therefore be comparable and aggregable. It is good practice to include indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals as standard indictors in the logical frameworks of projects and programs.
Context monitoring: In order to keep projects and programs on track even in a changing environment, successful projects regularly analyze the context. Context monitoring on the one hand relates to the critical assumptions and risks identified in the project plan. On the other hand, context monitoring is very well suited to keep an eye on and deal with transversal topics of the project, for example by means of gender-sensitive or conflict-sensitive monitoring.
Monitoring system: Digital systems for information and data management open up new possibilities for project monitoring. With cloud-based applications, information on activities, services and outcomes can be collected, evaluated, visualized and shared in real time. However, they also involve the risk of collecting too much or poor quality data or depriving the project of its core business.
Benefits of monitoring and evaluation: Monitoring and evaluation allow those involved at all levels to manage the project, to remain agile and to learn from experience. Good montoring and evaluation management also creates transparency about results, primarily towards the target groups, but also towards partners and donors. The use of the findings should therefore also be agreed between the parties involved in the planning phase.
Mixed methods in monitoring, evaluation and accompanying studies: A good mix of quantitative, qualitative and visual information is crucial to learn from experience. Statistical data say a lot about how much, but little about how and why. Qualitative data put the project and its impact into context, explain relationships, tell stories. Photos and videos creates authenticity and enables a change of perspective.