Section 5 Monitor and Evaluate

Monitoring
The systematic process of collecting, analysing and using information to track a programme’s progress toward reaching its objectives.
Evaluation
The systematic process of collecting, analysing and using information to determine the impact of a project; is it making a difference?

MonitoringMonitoring The systematic process of collecting, analysing and using information to track a programme’s progress toward reaching its objectives. and evaluationEvaluation The systematic process of collecting, analysing and using information to determine the impact of a project; is it making a difference? is an important part of every initiative and project as it allows you to track the progress of your initial idea and document results and success. It is also called outcome-based measurement.

Outcome-based measurement is a universal approach that strengthens accountability and encourages clarity about what your project is doing and what it is changing. Outcome-based measurements follow a logical chain of events that link resources to activities, activities to products or results, and results to outcomes and impact. Each step of the project process is linked with the next step, as demonstrated in Figure 16.

Objective
A description of the thing that you plan to do or achieve.

Monitoring and evaluation cannot be done at the end of a project, it needs to be designed as part of the chain of events when objectivesObjective A description of the thing that you plan to do or achieve. are formulated.

Once you have decided that your approach to play needs to change, follow these steps in the creation of your natural playground.

Figure 16 Once you have decided that your approach to play needs to change, follow these steps in the creation of your natural playground.

  • Efficiency determines the extent to which human and material resources are well used. It tells us if the input is worth the output it achieves.
  • Effectiveness assesses the extent to which a project achieves its objective. It tells us if the input is worth the output it achieves.
  • Impact determines whether or not we are making a difference to the problem we are trying to solve. It tells us if the project is producing change.
  • Sustainability estimates the extent to which changes are likely to continue after the project ends. It tells us if the changes are lasting.