The process of monitoring is the systematic collection of data from ongoing projects and programmes for improving the practices in future, external accountability and for taking informed decisions.
The activity of monitoring is a recurrent task which begins with the planning stage of a project. Monitoring helps in the documentation of processes and experiences to be used later in project decision making.
Monitoring also helps in checking the progress against the plans. The data generated through monitoring is used in evaluation.
Evaluation is the assessment done systematically as well as objectively of the functioning of a completed as well as ongoing project. Evaluation helps in the appraisal of data that can help in creation of strategic decisions.
It thereby helps in drawing conclusions about following aspects of intervention projects:-
- Relevance,
- Effectiveness,
- Efficiency,
- Impact and
- Sustainability.
M&E (Monitoring and Evaluation) is today an embedded constituent of any social programme or developmental project. For developmental projects in the social sector M&E provides a view about suitability and sustainability to the stakeholders.
With the growth and the development of the social sector, there are openings of numerous schemes run by governmental sector and the nongovernmental sector (NGOs) that require specialized knowledge of the monitoring and evaluation process.
Required Qualifications
A specialized training in the evaluation and monitoring may help the candidate to get a job in the social sector.
The required qualification for joining the social sector is a graduation in any discipline along with a masters in any discipline or a Master of Social Work (MSW)Along with a graduation and a certificate course in monitoring and evaluation would greatly help to work in the social sector.
Course available
There are many courses in India and abroad that provide specialized knowledge of monitoring and evaluation:
Global Courses:
1. Master of applied Anthropology and Participatory Development (MAAPD)at the Australian
National University, Canberra. For details visit: asiapacific.anu.edu.au
2. Graduate programs in evaluation at the Center for Program Evaluation, University of Melbourne. For details visit:
education.unimelb.edu.au
3. Project cycle management by PCM Group, Brussels, Belgium. For details visit: www.pcm-group.com
4. Training for Evaluation in Development by AGEG Consultants eG and Euronet Consulting EEIG. Belgium. For details visit: www.euronetconsulting.com
5. Evaluaion of Humanitarian Action by Channel Research. Belgium. For details : www.channelresearch.com
6. Result Based Management, by the Institute for Development in Economy and Administration. (IDEA International Institute) Quebec City, Canada. For details visit: www.idea-international.org
7. Monitoring and Evaluation Course in Victoria University of Wellington. For details visit: www.victoria.ac.nz
8. Post Graduate Course in Monitoring and Evaluation, Jima University of Ethiopia. For details visit: www.ju.edu.et
Indian Courses
1. Monitoring and Evaluation Humanitarian Responses at Red India For details visit: www.redr.org.in.
2. Planning Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) of Health Programmes at Institute of Health Management Pachod,
Maharashtra. www.ihmp.org.
3. The World Bank Institute Evaluation Group(WBIEG)organizes training for monitoring and Evaluation for results. Generally there is no open registration for people not affiliated with the sponsoring partner organizations. However people interested in M&E for development can contact at www.worldbank.org/wbi/evaluation/training.
4. Certificate course on Monitoring and Evaluation by PHFI is a three month certificate programme. It is an interactive distance learning programme. For details visit www.phfi.org.
5. International Perspective Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation (IPPME) three month course from PRIA International Academy of Lifelong Learning (PRIALL). For details visit: www.pria.org.
6. Certificate Course on Rural Development and Decentralized Planning (CRDDP) from AMR-Andhra Pradesh Academy of Rural Development, Hyderabad. Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad also covers concept of monitoring and evaluation. For details visit: http://www.apard.gov.in/crddp_ batch2.html
Prospects of Job and expected Salary
India has around 3.3 million NGOs of which 40,000 are working globally. In the social sector one can join as social service professional, social service assistant or social service executive and administrative personnel.
A first class graduate with a master of social work can start at about (Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000) and the salary would grow with experience.
What helps one to sustain in the social sector is the passion to make a change in the society apart from thorough understanding of social welfare project-conception of idea to execution of project and finally Monitoring and the Evaluation of the same.
This is where a certificate course in Monitoring and Evaluation would be an asset.
Source: Emp News Dated 06/12/2014 Author: Dr. Sarmistha Sarma
(The author is Associate Professor Department of Management Institute of Innovation In Technology and Management)
