RESULTS-BASED M&E

A 10-STEP
MODEL
 Step 1.
Conducting a Readiness Assessment
Are we ready for it ?

 Incentives and demands for an M&E system.

 Current roles and responsibilities.

 Existing capacity to support an M&E system.

 Step 2.
Agreeing on Outcomes to monitor and
Evaluate.

What do we expect from our efforts?

 Outcomes indicate which road to take – a

deductive process.
 Out comes must be agreed – a political
process
 Step 3.
Selecting Indicators to monitor
Outcomes
How do we measure our success or failure?
 Indicators for :
Inputs.
Activities
Outputs
Outcomes
Impacts.
 Key Performance Indicators ( continued)
CREAM
 Clear
 Relevant
 Economic.
 Adequate
 Monitorable
 Step 4
Baseline Data on Indicators
Where are We Today?

 To determine the current conditions.

 To measure future performance.
 Step 5
Selecting Results and Targets.

What are the Milestones?

 A consultative, political and
participatory process.
 Targets should be feasible, given the
available resources.
 Step 6
Monitoring for Results.

Are we achieving the desired results?

Qualities of good performance data:
 Reliability.
 Validity
 Timeliness.
Involves both implementation monitoring and
results monitoring
 Step 6 ctnd
• An effective monitoring system needs:
 Ownership
 Management
 Maintenance
 Credibility
Achieving results through partnership
 Step 7
Using Evaluations in M&E

Monitoring and Evaluation are Complimentary

 Uses of evaluations:
 Making resource allocation decisions.
 Identifying emerging problems
 Rethinking causality problems
 Supporting decision-making.
 Using Evaluations
Step 7
Timing of Evaluations is important when:
1. Regular measurements of key indicators suggest
a sharp divergence between planned and actual
performance.
2. There is evidence of weak or no results from an
initiative,
3. Resource allocations are being made across
programs or projects
4. Similar projects or programs are reporting
divergent evidence of outcomes
 Step 8
Reporting the findings

The findings of an M&E system should be

reported continuously
 Step 8
Reporting the Findings.
Purpose of reports:
 To improve policies, programs and projects.
 To determine trends, direction and results.
Considerations:
 Measurement Frequency vs Measurement
Precision.
 Cost and Capacity.
 Monitoring data vs Causality data.
 Reporting Findings
Step 8
• Compare to earlier data or to the baseline.
• Compare against past results.
Monitoring data are NOT causality data
(They do not tell why an event occurred)
 Step 9
Using the Findings
Uses of findings:
 To inform the decision making process.
 Helps decision makers to manage outcomes.
 Improves performance
 Helps to generate knowledge and learning
within the organization
 Helps generate trust.
 Step 10
Sustaining the M&E System
Six critical components:
1.There must be demand for performance
information.
2.Clear roles and responsibilities.
3.Incentives.
4.Trustworthy and credible information
5.Accountability
6.Capacity.
Ten Uses of Performance Findings

(1)

Respond to demands for accountability by

a) Elected officials eg parliamentarians.
b) The public / community.
 Ten uses of M & E Findings

(2)

Help formulate and justify budget requests

Ten Uses of Performance Findings

(3)

Help make operational resource allocation

decisions
Ten Uses of Performance Findings

(4)

Trigger in-depth examinations of what

performance problems exist and what
corrections are needed.
Ten Uses of Performance Findings

(5)

Help motivate personnel to continue making

program improvements
Ten Uses of Performance Findings

(6)

Formulate and monitor the performance of

contractors and grantees.
Ten Uses of Performance Findings

(7)

Provide data for special, in-depth program

evaluations.
Ten Uses of Performance Findings

(8)

Help provide services more efficiently

Ten Uses of Performance Findings

(9)

Support strategic and other long-term planning

efforts (by providing baseline information and
later tracking progress)
Ten Uses of Performance Findings

( 10 )

Communicate better with the public to build

trust.
 Uses of M&E findings
• To demonstrate accountability.
• To convince.
• To educate.
• To explore and investigate
• To document.
• To involve
• To gain support
• To promote understanding
 Outcomes Reporting Format
Outcome Baseline Current Target Difference
Indicator (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent)
Rates of child
mortality 30 25 20 -5
(N=6 000)
Children good
overall health 20 20 24 -4
(N=9 000)
Children with
improved 80 85 83 +2
nutritional
status
(N=14 000)