AEIF 2025

Alumni Monitoring and Evaluation Resource Guide

Social impact initiatives, like AEIF projects, are designed to influence change in behavior, attitudes, and
knowledge. A strong project plan incorporates methods to track and measure these changes. This
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) resource guide will help get you started on developing a strong M&E
plan for your project. Please note the following examples are not prescriptive and should be used to
guide you through the development of your own indicators, questions, and data metrics.

1. Key Terms and Definitions: Below are the definitions of common key M&E terminology. See more
definitions linked here.

Term Definition

Monitoring Tracks a program’s progress against established goals and objectives through ongoing data
collection.

Evaluation A formal study of a program. A systematic and objective assessment of an ongoing or

completed activity, project, program, or policy.

Goal The most significant change a program seeks to achieve.

Objective The changes a program seeks to achieve to reach the goal.

Activities Program or project actions or tasks that are implemented to achieve targeted outcomes.

Baseline The value of an indicator before the implementation of a program.

Indicator An observable or measurable characteristic that indicates the extent to which a program
objective is being achieved.

Output The immediate results from an activity.

Outcome Change that has occurred as a result of activities implemented.

Results Any product or change that occurs due to the program activities. A program’s outputs,
outcomes, and/or impact.

2. Developing Your Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: Using the following sample guiding
questions, indicators, and data collection methods, you can start putting together an M&E plan:

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 Project Design Phase
What are your project goals? How and when will you measure those goals? What are the gaps in existing
services or knowledge that your project seeks to fill? How many people are affected by the problem? What
challenges do you anticipate in project implementation?

Baseline Indicator Data type / Method

● Existing levels of knowledge and services and how ● Quantitative: Data from surveys and research
they apply to target group/ program participants on the topic in the context of target community
● Measurable rate of desired change in or direct Beneficiaries
knowledge, attitudes, and practices to be
achieved by the project over defined time ● Qualitative: Focus groups and interviews

Project Implementation Phase

How will you know if you have selected the right participants? Are project beneficiaries and
community members engaged and responding to project topics? Did you choose the right type of
activities for your project? What needs to change to ensure the activities result in desired outcomes?

Output Indicator Data type / Method

● Number of engagements with local media ● Quantitative: Number of participants,
workshops, social media following, radio and
● Number of beneficiaries who demonstrate TV shows or ads, blogs
new knowledge or skills
● Qualitative: Testimonials, Focus Groups,
● Amount of time beneficiaries, alumni team, Interviews
volunteers, and U.S. Embassy team spends
on carrying out project activities

● Number of new toolkits, campaign

guide, curriculum, or products produced

● Number of users engaging with/sharing

online content and resources on project’s
digital platforms
● Number of radio/TV audience, social media
followers, or website users increased
End of Project
Did your project meet or exceed your stated goals? Did your project influence change in knowledge, attitudes
and practices? Is it possible to replicate and/or scale your project?
Outcome Indicators Data type / Method

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● Number of beneficiaries who demonstrate new ● Quantitative: Survey (stakeholder and
and/or increased knowledge or skills beneficiaries), statistics from public and civil
society organizations, and/or number of
● Number of people who take action as result
services provided by stakeholders including
of awareness campaign or training
schools, health providers, business tech
● Number of new partnerships and audiences hubs, etc.
for alumni organizations and U.S. Embassy
● Project receives in-kind funding to support ● Qualitative: Interviews, focus groups,
future activities testimonials from beneficiaries, service
providers, teachers, volunteers, etc.
● Number of new businesses or income-generating
activities
● Number of beneficiaries who register to
vote, successfully apply for a job, increase
English language skills, etc.
Social Impact
What is the long-term impact of your project? What broader changes within the community, organization,
society, or environment occurred as result of program outcomes?
Social Impact Indicators Data type / Method
● Change in policy, new legislation, issue reframing ● Quantitative: Surveys of community, public
● Partners, beneficiaries, and communities continue institutions, NGO reports
associated activities 6-months/1 year after the
project ● Qualitative: Follow up interview with
participants, community members,
● Average increase in household income, number and stakeholders
of new businesses registered, etc. after x-
months/year
● Community reports decrease in violence, teen
pregnancy rates, or spread of disease 6-months/
year later
● Number of schools and vocational institutes
reporting increase of female students
pursuing STEM degrees x-month/year later
● Percentage of registered voters/candidates who
are women at the end of the project
Reporting
Reporting offers an excellent opportunity to assess and understand the impact of the project. ECA
requires a final report be submitted upon project completion.
*For Embassies only - Embassies must upload the final report to the project record in the Alumni
Contact and Engagement System (ACES) and notify the ECA Regional Alumni Coordinator of the
project’s completion.

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3. Additional Resources (Articles and Videos):
Here is a curated list of helpful online resources on M&E, both videos and articles:
● ECA Evaluation Division Seminars (YouTube Videos)
● “Introduction to M&E”, “Program Design and Logic Models”, Indicator Basics”, and
“Creating Baselines and Targets”
● ECA’s MODE Framework
● The Indicator Book (Includes ECA-designed and approved survey questions to help you design a
survey to measure your results)
● The Theory of Change (YouTube Video)
● Theory of Change: It’s Easier Than You Think! (YouTube Video)
● The Difference Between Monitoring and Evaluation (YouTube Video)
● Kirkpatrick’s Four Level Training Evaluation Model: (Training Projects)
● Measuring Nonprofit Social Impact: A Crash Course (How to Measure Social Impact)
● Types of Indicators (Direct or Indirect) (Different Types of Indicators)
● Developing Indicators (4 steps to Indicators) (4 Steps to Developing Indicators)

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