This document provides guidance on developing a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan. It emphasizes identifying the audience and their information needs, including what they want to know and when. Evaluation questions should go beyond measurements to higher-level questions. The type of monitoring depends on reporting timelines. A template can help transfer evaluation questions, indicators, responsibilities and timeframes. Data sources should be identified along with costs. The plan should specify who will evaluate data and how findings will be reported and to whom. Regular review ensures the plan captures all needed information and priorities questions based on budget. Implementation of the plan should be followed by a meta-evaluation.

1. Developing a Monitoring and
Evaluation (M&E) Plan

2. Overview of the Process

3. Audience What do they want to know? When do they
want to know
it by?
If you have limited
funds for evaluation,
you may have to
prioritise your
evaluation by
identifying who are
the most important
people to report
to….
Evaluation questions
go beyond
measurements to
ask the higher order
questions such as
whether the project
is worth it, or could
if have been
achieved in another
way….
This will impact on
what type of
monitoring you will
undertake. For
example, if you need
to report in 6
months time, it is no
use collecting data
that will only be
available in 12
months….
A stakeholder
evaluation
template can
be downloaded
from the
toolbox

4. So it is important to identify your
evaluation audience(s), and what
they NEED to know.
You can satisfy the WANT to know
if you have resources left over.

5. As an example….
Audience What do they want to know? When do they want
to know it by?
The funding agency &
project team
To what extent did the project meet its
objectives?
Annual & post-
project
Is the project scaleable or replicable? Post-project
Will the change last without continued
intervention?
Post-project
Project team Was the project delivered as planned? Post-project
What worked, and what did not? Quarterly
What else happened (unintended
consequences or emergent
properties)?
Quarterly
Was there an alternative method of
delivering the outcomes?
Post-project
Project participants
or target group
Did the project meet the participant’s
needs?
Post-project

6. Have you got a Program Logic?
• If you have a program logic (or some sort of
outcomes model), you can use that to guide
the development of your M&E plan.
• If not, consider developing a program logic, or
carry on with this presentation.
See the slide
presentation
on programlogic andM&E plans
See the slide
presentation
on
developing a
program
logic

7. M&E Plan Template
Transfer your evaluation questions into the
M&E plan…..
Your evaluation
questions go here
Your monitoring
questions go here
Your indicators
question go here

8. It will look
something like
this

9. Now, identify the data source….

10. …and identify the other information
required to complete the monitoring
Responsibilities Timeframes
Cost, eg. consultants,
or technology

11. Now, consider who will evaluate the
data, and how it will be reported
Consider who will
be making a
judgement as to
whether the data
indicates the
achievement of
success or
otherwise
Think about how the evaluation
findings will be reported.
Consider the audience, and
their requirements.
As well as reports, you could
consider using presentations in
meetings, newsletters, memos
etc….

12. Now, consider who will evaluate the
data, and how it will be reported
Finally, consider when you
will report evaluation
findings. This may be
dictated by the
requirements of your
audience. Funding agencies
may require regular
reporting. Councillors may
have specific timelines as
well. Also think about
providing feedback to
participants or the target
group.

13. The final M&E plan complements provides a
framework and guide as to what to evaluate

14. • Highlight data sources that appear frequently.
– For example, you may be able to develop surveys
that fulfil the data collection requirements for
many questions.
• Consider re-ordering the M&E plan in several
ways.
– For example, by data source, or by data collection
timeframe.
Review the M&E Plan

15. • Review the content, and consider:
– Does it capture all that you need to know in order
to make a meaningful evaluation of the project?
– Do you need to prioritise some questions in order
to work within your budget and other resources?
Review the M&E Plan

16. Remember….
• Do not ask evaluation questions unless
someone really needs to know the answer.
• Do not collect data if it will not be used to
answer a question.
• To do so will be a waste of time and resources
that could be allocated to meeting other
evaluation requirements.

17. • Implement your M&E plan……. and in due
course, conduct a meta-evaluation.
Next Step