Course Details

Monitoring and Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Training Course
 INTRODUCTION

The Monitoring and Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) course is designed to equip participants with the tools, knowledge, and skills required to effectively manage the MEAL function in development programs and projects. MEAL plays a crucial role in ensuring the effectiveness of programs by tracking progress, evaluating outcomes, fostering accountability, and integrating learning into future project cycles. The course covers the fundamentals of monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning, with a focus on practical application and real-world case studies.

This course is aimed at professionals involved in project management, program development, and those responsible for monitoring and evaluating development interventions in sectors such as education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, and humanitarian aid.

DURATION

10 days

TARGET AUDIENCE

This is a general training is targeting variety of program staff, management team members and thematic staff, Project Management Officials, government officials, program managers; policy makers and program implementers; development practitioners and activists and NGO and CSO members,

Why monitoring and evaluation Skills are Crucial for Professionals.

1. Enhancing Project Effectiveness: By mastering monitoring and evaluation, professionals can ensure their projects are not only implemented correctly but also deliver the intended outcomes. This leads to more successful initiatives that can drive positive change in various sectors, including health, education, and infrastructure.
2. Ensuring Accountability: With increasing demand for transparency and accountability in both the public and private sectors, having robust monitoring and evaluation skills means professionals can effectively report on project progress and outcomes. This builds trust among stakeholders, including donors, government agencies, and the communities served.
3. Promoting Sustainable Development: Africa's path to sustainable development hinges on the success of numerous projects and initiatives. monitoring and evaluation skills enable professionals to learn from past projects, apply best practices, and avoid repeating mistakes, thereby contributing to long-term sustainability.
4. Career Advancement: For individual professionals, possessing monitoring and evaluation skills can significantly enhance career prospects. Organizations value employees who can demonstrate a thorough understanding of project cycles and who can contribute to continuous improvement and accountability.

OBJECTIVES

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles and concepts of MEAL: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the key concepts, tools, and techniques used in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Accountability, and Learning.
• Design and implement MEAL frameworks: Develop the ability to design MEAL frameworks tailored to specific projects and programs, including the creation of logical frameworks (logframes), indicators, and data collection methods.
• Monitor program progress: Apply techniques to track program activities and outputs against pre-defined targets and objectives, ensuring that projects are on track to achieve their desired outcomes.
• Conduct evaluations: Learn how to design and implement both formative and summative evaluations to assess the impact, relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of projects.
• Promote accountability: Understand the role of accountability in development, focusing on mechanisms for reporting to stakeholders and ensuring transparency.
• Foster organizational learning: Identify and apply methods for capturing lessons learned and using them to improve future project design and implementation.
• Use MEAL data for decision-making: Enhance skills in data collection, analysis, and interpretation to inform project management decisions and demonstrate project impact.

COURSE OUTLINE 

Module 1: Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

• Overview of M&E: Key concepts, definitions, and differences between monitoring and evaluation.
• Importance of M&E in project management: Ensuring accountability, improving project outcomes, and promoting learning.
• The M&E cycle: Understanding the steps involved in designing, implementing, and reviewing M&E activities.

Module 2: Developing a MEAL Framework

• Logical Framework Approach (LFA): Designing a logical framework (logframe) for project planning and M&E.
• Indicators: Defining qualitative and quantitative indicators to measure outputs, outcomes, and impacts.
• Data sources and collection methods: Choosing appropriate data sources and methods (surveys, interviews, focus groups, etc.).
• Baseline studies: Establishing baseline data to measure project progress over time.

Module 3: Monitoring Program Activities and Results

• Monitoring systems: Setting up systems for continuous data collection and performance tracking.
• Tracking progress against indicators: Tools and techniques for comparing actual performance against targets.
• Data management: Managing, storing, and organizing data for easy access and analysis.
• Reporting results: Creating concise and meaningful monitoring reports for stakeholders.

Module 4: Evaluation Techniques and Methods

• Types of evaluations: Formative, summative, mid-term, and end-line evaluations.
• Evaluation design: Developing evaluation questions and selecting appropriate methods (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods).
• Data analysis for evaluations: Tools and techniques for analyzing M&E data.
• Reporting evaluation findings: Creating evaluation reports that communicate key findings and recommendations.

Module 5: Accountability in MEAL

• Defining accountability: Understanding who the key stakeholders are (donors, beneficiaries, government, etc.) and why accountability is important.
• Upward and downward accountability: Ensuring accountability to both donors (upward) and beneficiaries (downward).
• Feedback mechanisms: Establishing mechanisms for beneficiary feedback, complaints, and suggestions.
• Transparency and reporting: Tools for transparent reporting and demonstrating the impact of interventions to stakeholders.

Module 6: Learning and Adaptation

• Learning in MEAL: How to capture and use lessons learned for continuous improvement.
• Creating learning loops: Feedback systems to integrate lessons learned back into project planning and implementation.
• Knowledge management: Techniques for documenting and sharing project experiences.
• Adaptive management: Using MEAL data to make informed decisions and adapt strategies based on emerging evidence.

Module 7: Using MEAL Data for Decision-Making

• Data interpretation: Analyzing and interpreting data to inform decision-making.
• Communicating MEAL results: Best practices for presenting M&E findings to stakeholders, including using visual aids and dashboards.
• Making data-driven decisions: Using MEAL data to refine project implementation, allocate resources, and make informed strategic decisions.

Module 8: Tools and Technologies for MEAL

• MEAL software and tools: Overview of digital tools and software used in M&E (KoboToolbox, CommCare, Google Data Studio, etc.).
• Mobile data collection: Using mobile phones and tablets for real-time data collection and analysis.
• Data visualization: Creating compelling visuals (charts, graphs, dashboards) to communicate MEAL findings.

 CERTIFICATION

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with an Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

• Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

• Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

• Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com