Monitoring and Evaluation for Poverty Reduction Forum on National Plans as Poverty Reduction Strategies in East Asia 4-6 April, 2006 Vientiane, Lao PDR Sharad Bhandari Asian Development Bank

Outline of Presentation I. Why M&E II. Some examples of outcome indicators III. Examples of data and sources IV. Some basics for a good M&E system V. M&E in the Mekong sub-region

I. Why M&E Impact Outcomes Outputs Activities Inputs The Results Chain Indicative Example: Outcomes Impact Outputs Activities Inputs Effects on dimensions of well-being Improve literacy Access to, use of, and satisfaction with services School enrollment rates Goods and services produced Number of schools built; textbooks, etc. Tasks undertaken to transform inputs to outputs Building of schools Distribution of textbooks, etc. Financial, human and material resources Spending on primary education Source: Adapted from ADB (2006) Introduction to Results Management, p. 7 World Bank (2001) PRSP Sourcebook, p. 108.

III. Some examples of outcome indicators Improved road network % of roads in good condition; average travel time Improved public sector performance % of population satisfied with public services; tax collection (% of GDP) Improved health services Utilization rate of healthcare centers Increased tourism Number of tourists visiting the region Source: ADB. 2005. Practice Note on Results-based Country Strategies and Programs, Annex 2.

III. Examples of data and sources… Type Indicator Instrument Agency Level Input Public expenditures by category Budget documents; actual expenditure data; expenditure tracking surveys Ministries of finance and planning; sectoral ministries; auditing agencies National and various sub-national levels Output Outputs from public expenditure: infrastructure and services Administrative records and management information systems (MIS) Sectoral ministries; project implementation units; local administrations National and various sub-national levels; facilities (schools, clinics, etc) Source: Excerpt from World Bank, PRSP Sourcebook, Ch3 Table 3.2

III. ….Examples of data and sources Type Indicator Instrument Agency Level Outcome Access to, use of, and satisfaction with service Quick monitoring surveys; multi-topic household surveys; qualitative studies National statistical agency; local service providers Households and individuals; facilities (schools, clinics, etc) Impact Household consumption and income; living standards; social indicators; perception of well-being Household budget/expenditure/income surveys; Single-topic surveys (e.g. labor force surveys); multi-topic household surveys; qualitative studies National statistical agency Households, individuals, communities Source: Excerpt from World Bank, PRSP Sourcebook, Ch3 Table 3.2

III. Some basics for a good M&E system….. In addition to technical requirement of M&E, the institutional side is equally important Effective coordination among agencies involved in M&E essential

III. ….Some basics for a good M&E system Participation of stakeholders – promotes learning, nurtures demand and ownership, lends credibility to M&E process Capacity building for M&E – especially at sub-national levels; build on existing systems Feedback mechanisms/dissemination

IV. M&E in Mekong sub-region Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam have started the process of building sound M&E systems: at varying stages Like all worthy tasks, building workable M&E systems is challenging, but it is necessary to improve performance and realize national goals

Thank You.