M&E: Does it work?

The morning routine. Shower and then getting ready in front of the mirror. Do you dare to take a close look at yourself? Really look in the mirror?

Maybe you don’t like what you see, when you look in the mirror.

Maybe you don’t like what you see at the workplace neither when you take a close look, thoroughly examining the work done. Does it match the plans, do you see change.

Or, to put it straight: Does it work?

This is what the theme of this issue of MS Uganda’s newsletter is about: Monitoring and evaluation is the professional term for that close look. But of course it’s not only about looking. Just as much it’s about learning and acting after having looked: Making adjustments, revisions, trying again.

The nickname for the exercise is M&E. Read and learn – and prepare your self for a future full of close looks. All with one goal: To even more effectively make way for positive change. (mr)

M&E: What it really means

Before travelling into the land of Monitoring and Evaluation, lets clarify what the two words mean:

Monitoring is an internal project and an integral part of the day to day management of an organisation. It involves regular collection and analysis of information to assist in timely decision making, ensure accountability, and provide a basis for evaluation. It looks at the functioning of project activities in relation to the implementation schedule, and the use of project inputs by the beneficiaries.

Evaluation is a systematic and periodic examination of planned, ongoing or completed projects. It seeks to determine the relevancy, performance, effectiveness and impact of the project in the context of the stated objectives. (ds)