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Public Works as a Safety Net
impact would include, for example, the percentage decline in the incidence of poverty. Monitoring is a continuous process of collecting and analyzing information to better understand how well a program is performing against expected outputs. Evaluation is an objective assessment of program effectiveness that uses specialized methods to estimate net results or impacts, and/or to identify whether the net benefits (impacts) of the program outweigh its costs. Programs with strong M&E systems benefit from feedback on program functioning. Such feedback allows midcourse correction to effect improvements in program design and delivery so as to enhance its impact. In recent years, a growing number of programs have been designed around results-based M&E systems, which typically use a results chain (see below). This chapter examines the basic arrangements for putting an M&E system for public works programs in place, as well as the practical challenges of refining M&E tools to make them work in low-capacity settings. It begins by describing the results chain as a tool for mapping a program’s objectives, and the use of appropriate indicators derived from the overarching objectives and orientation of the program. The discussion underscores the need for continuously evolving M&E systems designed in a flexible manner and with active stakeholder participation. It describes how tools can be customized and may evolve over time to address some common challenges and pitfalls such as data constraints, institutional roles, and limited capacity. The chapter ends with some lessons and conclusions regarding experiences with M&E systems drawn from different countries.
Results Chains and Indicators As detailed in chapter 2, public works programs encompass a variety of objectives, including temporary income support, employment generation, skills acquisition, and the development of infrastructural projects and services. A good start toward understanding the attainment of these objectives is to generate a results chain. A results chain is a management tool that shows how inputs and activities, through a number of intermediary causal links, are expected to result in the realization of the goals/ objectives of the program. Examining these causal links facilitates the identification of performance indicators at each link in the chain, as well as risks that might impede attainment of the objective. The results chain is a useful tool for engaging implementing partners in clarifying