Monitoring and Evaluation Begins at Planning, GOT IT!!!

The Planning Phase of Programme

Monitoring and Evaluation is really about keeping track, measuring results and attributing change to your developmental interventions. You see, to make things successfully clear and easy it is highly important that the planning phase of a programme or project is done perfectly. There is absolutely no need for mistakes because if you really think deeply you will soon realize that Monitoring and Evaluation depends on a very good planning phase. Lets get into business and define the planning phase in detail. You have to believe it!!

Get it right from in the Beginning

Just what is planning and how important is it for the Monitoring and Evaluation process? Planning involves a combination of things but here's the news....You can plan a very good programme if you really get it right from the start. As earlier said, planning involves a combination of things as listed below namely;

• Setting your goals, visions and objectives of a programe
• Setting forward your implementation for the months or years to come
• Setting the resources that will be allocated to these activities

Now in the planning phase the key is to know exactly what you want to do and exactly how your programme or project will contribute to change or developmental results..Its that simple. However in as much as the planning phase may seem like a piece of cake you have to understand that the planning phase is constantly changing due to its dynamic nature. Anything can change at anytime, but with proper brainstorming with the various stakeholders in the planning stage, you will surely find that the following questions will be answered with no problems at all. In the planning phase questions need to be answered such as 'what do we want?', 'what are the solutions to the problems identified?', 'how can we reach these goals?' these are some of the many questions which you should seriously begin to ask yourself without a slightest doubt. It is important that at the planning phase you take advantage of the Logical Framework Approach which will be discussed later in detail.

Programme Planning Process

The programme planning process basically involves 4 main interesting phases which shouldn't miss the eye of any Monitoring and Evaluation Officer who is involved in the process. Here are the processes folks;

• Analysis of problems and solutions
• Indepth problem analysis
• Indepth Analysis of solutions
• Identification of a programme or project

Now it is at these various stages that the relevant stakeholders should be fully involved  but also make sure that Monitoring and Evaluation staff are fully involved in the processes as well. But then, Why are Monitoring and Evaluation Staff members so important in the first place?

Monitoring and Evaluation Staff in Planning

Monitoring and Evaluation Staff are basically so important because they add value to the planning process of the programme or project. Through their experience you will be able to develop indicators that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time bound. It is not only in the development of indicators where the Monitoring and Evaluation staff are valuable but it is also in helping stakeholders understand the processes and challenges that may come along in collecting information. Monitoring and Evaluation staff can really make the planning process more interesting than you actually think folks. Take Monitoring and Evaluation to a whole different level.