This document discusses monitoring and evaluation tools for agricultural development projects in Egypt. It defines monitoring as tracking project information for progress updates, and evaluation as periodic assessments of effects. Successful M&E requires clear objectives, measurable indicators, and tools tailored to needs. Key steps include deciding why to conduct M&E, clarifying objectives, choosing indicators, and identifying data collection methods. Examples of tools provided are logical frameworks, rapid appraisal, participatory methods, and spatial mapping to visually monitor progress. The document advocates for building an M&E system and database in collaboration with Egyptian stakeholders.

1. Towards a Monitoring and Impact
Evaluation Toolkit for Agricultural
Development Projects In Egypt
APRIL 21, 2016 | CAIRO, EGYPT
Clemens Breisinger
Hagar ElDidi

2. What is monitoring and evaluation?
Monitoring is the continuous tracking of information
about a project, sector or policy to inform
stakeholders of progress, outcomes, and corrective
action that may be needed for achieving goals
Evaluations are periodic and systematic assessments
to identify the effects of a program, project, or
policy (intended or unintended; positive or
negative) for accountability and learning.
Source: Own definition based on various sources (see last slide on useful resources)

3. Why is monitoring and evaluation useful
• “More bang for the buck”
• Accountability
• Identify problems early and propose solutions
• Provide the evidential basis for building consensus
between stakeholders
• Develop a knowledge base of what works, what does
not and why
Source: Based on various sources (see last slide on useful resources)

4. Lessons learned for successfully
introducing M&E tools
• Choice of objectives, indicators and tools is critical
– Be very clear and realistic in the description of project objectives,
components and implementation arrangements
– Choose clearly meaningful, measurable and monitorable indicators
– Tailor M&E data collection and tools to institutional needs and build
capacity
• Institutional arrangements and acceptance matter
– Build ownership and participation by project staff and the
stakeholders
– Integrate M&E with management information and action systems
of the project
– Clear assignment of responsibilities and allocation of resources
Source: Based on various sources (see last slide on useful resources)

5. Key steps for success
1. Decide why you want to do M&E
2. Clarify your specific objectives and theory of change
3. Decide which projects you want to monitor and assess
4. Choose and specify indicators
5. Identify what data you need to collect
6. Decide how you will collect your data
7. Decide which analytical tools to use
8. Decide who to involve in the different stages
9. Decide how to communicate the information to decision
makers (and others)
Source: Based on various sources (see last slide on useful resources)

6. Examples of monitoring tools
• Logical framework
• Rapid appraisal methods
• Participatory methods
• Public expenditure tracking
• Mapping/GIS applications
Source: Based on various sources (see last slide on useful resources)

7. Using spatial mapping tools for project
monitoring
• Developing an online remote data entry system
• Spatial monitoring and evaluation of project impacts
– visually appealing and intuitive when monitoring progress.
• First steps
– Building a database with project information (based on needs
assessment)
– Remote data entry into system to monitor progress
• Eventual results based monitoring: tracking development
outcomes

8. Building a project database
• Review available data
• Decide preferred
categorization
• Collect and format
data
• Enter on database
• Track progress
(visuals)
• Update database
Project data
collection
Data processing
Work Flow
Data entry
Visual monitoring

9. Portfolio mapping tools – mapping context

10. Examples of evaluation tools
• Experimental design (is the “gold standard”
among IE)
• Quasi-experimental design
• Performance evaluation
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Desk review
Source: Based on various sources (see last slide on useful resources)

11. Program
start
Program
end
Time
With
program
Impact Evaluation: A Visual Example
Outcome
𝑌0
𝑌1
Source: Dan Gilligan, 2015. IFPRI

12. Program
start
Program
end
Time
With
program
Outcome
Evaluation
Question:
How much of
this change
is due to the
program?
Impact Evaluation: A Visual Example
𝑌0
𝑌1
Source: Dan Gilligan, 2015. IFPRI

13. Program
start
Program
end
Time
Program
Impact
With
program
Without
program
Outcome
Effect of
other factors
Impact Evaluation: A Visual Example
𝑌0
𝑌1
𝑌1
∗
Source: Dan Gilligan, 2015. IFPRI

14. Next steps
• Conduct a rigorous and comprehensive M&E
needs assessment with MoALR
• Build a project mapping tool of existing
projects by international partners

15. Useful resources
General:
• http://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/research/technologies/projects/mesc/gu
ide-to-monitoring-and-evaluation-v1-march2014.pdf
• http://lnweb90.worldbank.org/oed/oeddoclib.nsf/24cc3bb1f94ae1
1c85256808006a0046/a5efbb5d776b67d285256b1e0079c9a3/$FIL
E/MandE_tools_methods_approaches.pdf
General agriculture and rural development:
• http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/am292e/am292e00.pdf
• https://assets.mcc.gov/reports/paper-2012001116901-principles-
impact-evaluations.pdf
Agricultural extension and research:
• http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTARD/Resources/ARD_DP20.
pdf
• http://ebrary.ifpri.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15738coll2/id/127187