Overview

The Project Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning seminar familiarizes participants with project monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems and tools that focus on results in international development. Participants will leave the seminar with both a conceptual framework of M&E and a development of relevant practical skills.

Certification 

Upon successful completion of the seminar, each participant will be awarded a Certificate of Completion. Successful completion requires that a participant diligently attend all seminar sessions promptly and on time throughout the seminar, read all assignments, and participate in all group discussions and exercises. If a number of sessions are missed without proper reason, the ILI reserves the right to withhold certification.

Format

This seminar is currently offered in-person. Special requests to attend online must be submitted by email as early as possible. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the overall experience of each participant and the larger group. In-person seminars, even when being joined online, run from 9:30 am – 4:00 pm Washington, D.C., time.

Course Outline

Results-Based Management (RBM) in International Development

• Understanding and distinguishing between monitoring, evaluation, and audits in the context of RBM
• Problem identification
• Development of causal hypotheses and results frameworks (inputs, outputs, outcomes and impacts)
• Measuring progress
• Feeding monitoring and evaluation findings into decision-making
• Role of partners and stakeholders
• Resourcing for monitoring and evaluation 

Planning for and Executing the Monitoring and Evaluation Processes

• Key principles for overall work planning
• Purpose and timing of monitoring and evaluation
• Involving key partners and stakeholders
• Establishing a hierarchy of project objectives
• Defining scope of monitoring and evaluations
• Selecting analytical tools, methodologies or approaches enabling measurement and attribution
• Importance of data quality and collection, and baseline data
• Developing indicators to measure progress and identify gaps
• Development and selection of evaluation questions and teams
• Budgeting for monitoring and evaluation
• Managing monitoring and evaluation processes
• Anticipating and resolving problems

Tools, Methods and Approaches Facilitating Monitoring and Evaluation

• Performance indicators and common rating systems
• Logical framework approach (LogFrame) and results framework approach
• Qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, including
  • Surveys
  • Interviews and focus groups
  • Rapid appraisal methods
  • Participatory methods
  • Direct Observation
• Analytic techniques including
  • Economic analysis, including cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis
• Performance and process evaluation design
• Impact evaluation design and purpose
• Annual reviews and reports
• Comparative overview of other tools, methods and approaches used by leading global institutions

Knowledge and Learning

• Learning from evaluative evidence and applying recommendations from feedback
• Improving evaluation feedback
• Knowledge management
• Data visualization
• Institutionalization of learning

Course Advisor

Ms. Danielle de García is the Chief Program Officer and Vice President at Social Impact (SI). She oversees a portfolio of staff and projects, providing leadership, quality assurance, and technical direction to a variety of contracts related to monitoring, performance management, evaluation, and strategic planning. She has extensive experience with both management and implementation; and has worked in more than 25 countries implementing a variety of monitoring, evaluation, and learning approaches. Dani’s recent work includes leading and participating in a number of evaluations, learning events, and strategic planning engagements for World Bank, USAID, MasterCard Foundation, MCC, US Department of State, and MacArthur Foundation initiatives around the world. Throughout her career, Dani has provided performance management and organizational development assistance to the World Bank, CATHALAC, the United States Institute of Peace, and international NGOs; and has trained hundreds of NGO and USG staff on M&E designs and approaches. Through her work, she has helped a number of organizations institutionalize sound monitoring, evaluation, and learning practices. She has also facilitated M&E and strategic planning sessions for many USAID Missions around the world. Skilled in social network analysis and participatory approaches, Dani focuses on enhancing the results-based management capacity of people and organizations through evidence-based decision making and relevant innovations. Ms. de García holds an MPA in International Management and certification in Development Project Management. She is a Certified Performance Technologist (CPT) for human and institutional capacity development and is fluent in Spanish.