Introduction: Building a Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation System
Evaluation has also been used for different purposes over the years. In the OECD countries, for example, early evaluations in the 1960s and 1970s studied ways of improving social programs. Later in the 1980s and 1990s, governments used evaluation to conduct budgetary management, for example, by examining ways to reduce expenditures and cut public programs. As noted earlier, efforts to develop M&E systems have spread to developing countries—many having been driven by the desire to meet specific donor requirements, international development goals, or, in some cases, both external and internal social and economic pressures. Again, evaluation can be defined as an assessment, as systematic and objective as possible, of a planned, ongoing, or completed intervention. The aim is to determine the relevance of objectives, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, and sustainability so as to incorporate lessons learned into the decisionmaking process. Specifically, this kind of evaluation addresses: “why” questions, that is, what caused the changes being monitored; “how” questions, or what was the sequence or process that led to successful (or unsuccessful) outcomes; and “compliance and accountability” questions, that is, did the promised activities actually take place and as planned? Key Features of Traditional Implementation-Focused and Results-Based M&E Systems Traditional implementation-focused M&E systems are designed to address compliance—the “did they do it” question. Did they mobilize the needed inputs? Did they undertake and complete the agreed activities? Did they deliver the intended outputs (the products or services to be produced)? The implementation approach focuses on monitoring and assessing how well a project, program, or policy is being executed, and it often links the implementation to a particular unit of responsibility. However, this approach does not provide policymakers, managers, and stakeholders with an understanding of the success or failure of that project, program, or policy. Results-based M&E systems are designed to address the “so what” question. So what about the fact that outputs have been generated? So what that activities have taken place? So what that the outputs from these activities have been counted? A results-based system provides feedback on the actual outcomes and goals of government actions. Results-based systems help answer the following questions:
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