Introduction: Building a Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation System
Ten Steps to Designing, Building, and Sustaining a Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation System Figure i.ii
Selecting Key Indicators to Monitor Outcomes
Conducting a Readiness Assessment
1
2 Agreeing on Outcomes to Monitor and Evaluate
3
Planning for Improvement — Selecting Results Targets
4 Baseline Data on Indicators — Where Are We Today?
5
The Role of Evaluations
6
7
Monitoring for Results
proaches. The first is the whole-of-government approach that was adopted in some of the early M&E pioneer countries. The whole-ofgovernment approach involves a broad, comprehensive establishment of M&E across the government. With the adoption of the MDGs, many developing countries are looking to design and implement comprehensive results-based M&E systems across many sectors and policies. Also, with the growing emphasis on results in international aid lending, more donor governments and institutions will likely provide support to developing countries to build broad M&E systems. There are trends among some donor agencies and governments to perform joint evaluations involving the recipient country as an active participant. Often, different ministries are at different stages in their ability to take on the establishment of an M&E system. The whole-of-government strategy may not be able to move all ministries in tandem; there may be a need for sequencing among ministries in developing these systems. Many times innovations at one level will filter horizontally and vertically to other levels in the government. Thus, the second approach is a more limited or enclave-focused one. Many countries—especially developing countries—may not yet be in a position to adopt such sweeping change in a comprehensive fashion. Other, more targeted approaches are available, such as be-
Using Findings
8 Reporting Findings
9
10 Sustaining the M&E System within the Organization
25