Apex Centre for Training and Research P.O.

Box 1008 – 00902, Kikuyu – Kenya

Nurturing Talents and Developing Skills Tel: +254720272325 / +254737566961
for the 21st Century!
Email: apexresearchltd@gmail.com
ESSENTIAL MONITORING AND EVALUATION SKILLS FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Course Description

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) are part of everyday programme
management and are critical to the success of all programmes. MEAL technical quality is very
important across a portfolio of projects. Without an effective MEAL system we would be unable to
track progress, make adjustments, discover unplanned effects of programmes, or judge the impact
that we have made on the lives of those with whom we are working. A MEAL system also helps
individuals and teams to be accountable to stakeholders through information sharing and developing
complaints or feedback mechanism which can help to guide programme implementation.

The course provides participants with a strong foundation in monitoring and evaluation, programme
design and implementation. Participants will explore the variety of tools and techniques used to
measure project progress and to report outcomes to the appropriate internal and external
stakeholders—including donors, funders, supervisors, or the population being served. Participants
will design relevant and effective frameworks, and learn the required methods to conduct effective
data collection, statistical analysis, and reporting. Through the interactive sessions and through
exposure to real case studies drawn from relevant organizations, participants will gain the skills
needed to conduct a monitoring and evaluation programme for development organizations, NGOs,
or private organizations in the development, peacebuilding, energy, gender studies, transnational
security sectors among other sectors. The course introduces participants to MEAL concepts and
practices. It will stimulate ideas on how to design and implement monitoring and evaluation
processes that strengthen accountability and learning, and so promote project, programme and
strategy effectiveness.

Course Objectives

By the end of this program, participants should be able to:

 Understand the concepts of monitoring and evaluation

 Build a project or programme design and a monitoring and evaluation system and framework
 Develop and utilize appropriate indicators for measuring project or programme goals,
outcomes, outputs, and impacts/effectiveness
 Apply cost management approaches in project monitoring and evaluation
 Understand quantitative and qualitative data collection methods used in project or
programme monitoring and evaluation
 Understand ways of using quantitative and qualitative data in project or program monitoring
and evaluation
 Use selected software to analyze monitoring and evaluation data
 Monitoring progress toward results and resources consumed with the use of appropriate
indicators
 Understand and utilize project management information software (PMIS)
 Communicate monitoring and evaluation results effectively
  Formulate mechanisms for sustaining monitoring and evaluation systems
 Set up and implement monitoring and evaluation consultancies

Training Methodology

The course is designed to be highly interactive, challenging and stimulating. It will be an instructor
led training and will be delivered using a blended learning approach comprising of presentations,
discussions, guided sessions of practical exercise, web based tutorials, group work and exploration
of relevant issues. Our facilitators are seasoned industry experts with years of experience, working
as professional and trainers in these fields. All facilitation and course materials will be offered in
English.

Course Content

 Basic Concepts in Monitoring and  Baseline Assessment

Evaluation  Meaning and purpose of baseline
 Introduction to M&E assessments
 Monitoring & Evaluation and the  Importance of baseline assessment
project cycle  Setting baselines and indicators
 Importance of M&E  Gathering data on baseline Indicators
 Purposes and uses of M&E  Use of Baseline data on indicators
 Identifying gaps in M&E  Introduction to Impact Evaluation
 Barriers to effective M&E  Defining impact evaluation
 Introduction to Problem Analysis  Deciding whether to evaluate
 Monitoring and Evaluation Systems and  Attribution in impact evaluation
Frameworks  Contribution vs attribution
 Principles of the M&E system  Types of evaluation questions
 Identifying the purpose and scope of  Theories of Change
the M&E system  Evaluation hypothesis
 Design & set up of M&E system  Impact evaluation indicators
 Practical on designing the M&E system  Mobile Based Data Collection (ODK) and
 Definition of M&E frameworks: Mapping
Conceptual framework; Results chain  Data Collection; Methods, Tools, &
framework; Logical framework Guides
 Developing and implementing M&E  Introduction to mobile phone data
frameworks collection
 Linking M&E frameworks to indicators  Advantages and challenges of Mobile
 Monitoring and Evaluation Planning & Applications
Budgeting  Components of Open Data Kit (ODK)
 Resource Planning  ODK platforms and formats
 Cost Estimation  Downloading and install ODK Collect
 Cost Budgeting into mobile devices or using file
 Cost Control  Designing and creating Forms
 Earned Value Approach  ODK Aggregate Server
  Transform data and Using GPS  Knowledge Management and Learning
Coordinates for Mapping/Visualizing  Audience analysis
 Data Quality Management  Writing monitoring and evaluation
 The Data Quality Triangle: Reliability, reports
Validity, and Timeliness  The Role of Technology: Overview of
 Data Quality plan MS Project/Project management
 Tabulation and Graphical Presentation of software
Data  Report Writing & Presentation
 Descriptive Statistics  Project/program progress reports
 Frequency tables  Board papers; Press releases;
 Tables for categorical data Management Report
 Graphs and charts  Ethical Issues in Report Writing
 Data Analysis and Interpretation for M&E  Presentation of reports
 Hypothesis testing  Sustaining M&E Systems
 Comparing Means.  Project Termination
 Regression and Correlation Analysis  The concept of termination
 Interpreting the data  When to terminate a project
 Quantitative Data Analysis Using SPSS  Termination approaches
 Qualitative Data Analysis Using NVivo  The termination process
 Qualitative Approaches in Impact  Write –up of project final report
Evaluation  Contemporary Issues in Project
 Most Significant Change Management
 Outcome Mapping  Gender and project management
 Outcome Harvesting  Project and community development
 Appreciative Inquiry  Project sustainability
 Project Communication Management  Donors and project management in
 Importance & Process of developing countries
Communication  Project environment and safety
 Developing information  Participatory monitoring and
documentation plan evaluation approaches
 Documentation of Lessons learnt, best  Monitoring and Evaluation Consulting
practices  Define consultancy & M&E consultant
 M & E results dissemination plan  Aspects of M & E Consultancy
 Documentation & Dissemination of M &  Consultancy processes, Relationship
E Results Management (Consultant & client)
 Constraints in dissemination of M & E  Costing assignments, Presentation to
results stakeholders
 Using Monitoring and Evaluation  Marketing strategies for consultants
Findings  Ethical/ cultural considerations

Requirements
Participants should be reasonably proficient in English. Applicants must live up to Apex Centre for
Training & Research admission criteria.
NOTE
1. Discounts: Organizations sponsoring Four Participants will have the 5th attend Free
2. What is catered for by the Course Fees: Fees caters for all requirements for the training –
Learning materials, Lunches, Teas, Snacks and Certification. All participants will additionally
cater for their travel and accommodation expenses, visa application, insurance, and other
personal expenses.
3. Certificate Awarded: Participants are awarded Certificates of Participation at the end of the
training.
4. The program content shown here is for guidance purposes only. Our continuous course
improvement process may lead to changes in topics and course structure.
5. Approval of Course: Our Programs are NITA Approved. Participating organizations can
therefore claim reimbursement on fee paid in accordance with NITA Rules.
How to Book: Simply send an email to the Training Officer on apexresearchltd@gmail.com and we
will send you a registration form. We advise you to book early to avoid missing a seat to this training.
Or call us on: +254720272325 / +254737566961
Payment Options: We provide 3 payment options, choose one for your convenience, and kindly make
payments at least 5 days before the Training start date in order to reserve your seat:
1. Groups of 5 People and Above – Cheque Payments to: Apex Centre for Training & Research
Limited should be paid in advance, 5 days to the training.
2. Invoice: We can send a bill directly to you or your company.
3. Deposit directly into Bank Account (Account details provided upon request)
Cancellation Policy
1. Payment for the all courses includes a registration fee, which is non-refundable, and equals
15% of the total sum of the course fee.
2. Participants may cancel attendance 14 days or more prior to the training commencement
date.
3. No refunds will be made 14 days or less to the training commencement date. However,
participants who are unable to attend may opt to attend a similar training at a later date, or
send a substitute participant provided the participation criteria have been met.
Tailor Made Courses
This training course can also be customized for your institution upon request to a minimum of 5
participants. You can have it delivered at our Training Centre or at a convenient location. For further
inquiries, please contact us on Tel: +254720272325 / +254737566961 or Email
apexresearchltd@gmail.com
Accommodation: Accommodation is arranged upon request and at extra cost. For reservations
contact the Training Officer on Email: apexresearchltd@gmail.com or on Tel: +254720272325 /
+254737566961
Course Details

Course Title Duration Cost

in Days

Essential Monitoring and Evaluation Kenyan: KES 65,000

5
Skills for Development Projects International / Foreigner: EUR 900 / USD 975