Why do we need monitoring and evaluation in Project Implementation?

Why do we need Monitoring and Evaluation in Project Implementation? Well often times people ask that question because they simply don't see the point. It could be this, why are we even spending money to undertake M&E activities in the first place? Surprisingly (and I mean this is really surprising)...coordinators of big projects don't even see the need to constitute an M&E unit that is dedicated to implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation activities.

While Monitoring and Evaluation is seen as a donor requirement, often times it is far much more. M&E is a management tool that ensures that an organization is achieving its goals and objectives. There is one important thing we should all realize, we need to understand the power of information. Information is what people need to be able to make key decisions that would benefit the stakeholders as a whole. That's what M&E aims to achieve, it aims to achieve provision of information.

Monitoring as the name suggest is a process of continuous tracking in order to ascertain whether activities are proceeding as planned while Evaluation is an in-depth assessment that is done in order to ascertain whether any change has been achieved. These two things put together create a formidable team. But the question is why have them? This article is dedicated to all those who think that Monitoring and Evaluation is not important.

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Why we need Monitoring and Evaluation?

(1) Transparency: When a project is being implemented, stakeholders are keen to see whether indeed it is achieving the intending the results. If its not achieving the results then the question is why? Could it be that the design of the project isn't good? Could it be that the Project Management team don't have the skills required to carry out the job? or could it be other reasons. With the information from M&E activities, it is relatively easy to draw formidable conclusions. People want to know whether there is indeed project success or failure and this information should be provided freely to stakeholders.

(II) Accountability: Accountability is all about holding the implementer's of project responsible for project success or failure. When people are held accountable for their actions, naturally there is a strong drive to ensure that all activities being implemented are being implemented in order to achieve maximum impact.

(III) Good governance; This serves as a early Warning System. This will in turn aid in effective management decision making.  M&E interventions will be able to spot weaknesses and strengths. To improve the chances of success, attention needs to be placed on some of the common areas of weakness in the implementation of activities.

(IV) Efficiency; The M&E interventions will promote efficiency because when problems are spotted early then solutions can be found which will mean less costs. Because of this information, management can in essence make cost effective decisions and yet achieve maximum output.

(V) Effectiveness; Because of M&E, the degree of success will be evident and the magnitude of the results achieved will be definitely seen. Often times, a project can be effective if corrective measures are being undertaken.