What is M&E?
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) helps track and assess a project’s progress and impact.
Monitoring
Monitoring is an ongoing process where data is collected to see how well a project is running (e.g. how much plastic is collected, activities completed, and money spent). It helps managers compare progress against the plan and make adjustments.
Monitoring involves:
- Deciding what to measure and setting goals
- Creating systems to collect data
- Gathering, recording, and analysing data
- Using the data to improve daily operations
Evaluation
Evaluation is a structured review of a project, looking at its planning, implementation, and results. It can happen:
- At the end of a project (Terminal Evaluation)
- Halfway through (Mid-term Evaluation)
- Continuously (Ongoing study)
Evaluations assess:
- Relevance – Is the project solving the right problem?
- Coherence – How does it fit with other efforts?
- Effectiveness – Is it achieving its goals?
- Efficiency – Are resources used wisely?
- Impact – What lasting changes has it made?
- Sustainability – Will the benefits continue?
See here for more information on these 6 evaluation criteria.
An evaluation looks at all parts of a project, including organisation, technical work, and finances. Reaching the project’s goals (effectiveness) is just one part of the evaluation.
Tip: Evaluation vs. Impact Evaluation
Impact Evaluation only looks at long-term effects on the community and environment. It checks whether the project caused real change, including unexpected results.
Impact Evaluations require detailed data and statistical analysis. Some funders request them, so understanding this can help secure funding.
