Participatory M&E for Rural Development and Community Managed Programmes

INTRODUCTION

This course enables participants to broaden their understanding of participatory monitoring and evaluation as a support program management at various levels, and a tool for enhancing local capacity, participation, and people’s confidence and control over development processes and decisions. The training will delve into concepts and principles of participatory monitoring and evaluation as well as the different methods and techniques that have already been tested in the field. 

The course is most suitable to individuals involved in planning, monitoring, and evaluation such as project managers, research officers, extension workers, community facilitators, and advocacy workers with at least two years of direct experience in planning, implementation, or management of activities. Participants will be required to produce information materials describing their experience. English proficiency is another requirement.

DURATION

5 days

TARGET AUDIENCE

TOPICS TO BE COVERED

Introduction to Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation (PME)

• Aims of Participatory M&E

• Applicability, advantages and disadvantages of PME

• Principles of PME

• What is PME?

Steps in the development and implementation of PME process

• Analyzing Data

• Gathering Data

• Planning the PM&E Process and Determining Objectives and Indicators

• Sharing the Information and Defining Actions to Be Taken

Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation Frameworks

• Strategic Framework

• Logical Framework

Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation Plans

• Developing PM&E Plans

• Implementing and monitoring PM&E Plans

• Mainstreaming PM&E Plans with Project Plans

Techniques and Tools for PM&E

• Beneficiary Assessment

• Community records and indicators

• Participatory Rural Appraisal

• Photographing the evidence

• SARAR

• Testimonials

• Visual self-evaluation tools

Participatory Planning and Design

• Developing an action plan for implementation

• Generating objectives for Project planning

• Group dynamics of Participatory Decision making process.

• Involving the community in implementation

Selecting indicators for Participatory Monitoring & Evaluation

• Definition of an indicator.

• Factors to consider in selecting indicators.

• Formulation of indicators.

• Types of indicators.

Participatory Action Research (PAR)

• PAR Tools

• Research mapping

• Research Planning

• What is Action Research?

• What is social research?

Participatory Baselines

• The need for Participatory baselines  

• Tools used for Participatory baseline surveys

Data Analysis for Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation

• Difference between description and interpretation

• Feedback to Stakeholders

• Qualitative data analysis: The basic steps

• Participatory dissemination.

• Participatory Information gathering Tools and Methods

• How to increase trustworthiness of findings

• Using NVivo for qualitative data analysis and management  

• Value of involving others in the process

Participatory Impact Assessment

• 8 stages of a Participatory impact assessment

• Assessing project attribution

• Participatory Tools and Methods for participatory impact assessment

• Community defined indicators of project impact

• Triangulation

• What is participatory impact assessment?

Participatory M & E Report writing

• Communicating the different findings among partners

• Qualities of a good report

• Sharing experiences with others who may be implementing similar projects.

GIS & GPS Techniques for mapping in Participatory M&E

• Participatory Mapping of M & E indicators

• Using Google Maps, Google Earth for participatory mapping   

• Introduction to Participatory GIS Software (Quantum GIS)