USAID’s Experience and Lessons Learned in Approaches used in Monitoring and Evaluating Capacity Building Activities Duane Muller, USAID November 7, 2008 UNFCCC Meeting on Experiences with Performance Indicators for Monitoring and Evaluation of Capacity Building Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

USG COMMITMENT TO CAPACITY BUILDING Integral to development programs Country driven approach Useful lessons at the project level

Managing for Results USAID’s Experiences

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

The systematic process of: Monitoring the results of activities Collecting and analyzing performance information Evaluating program performance Using performance information Communicating results

STEPS IN DEVELOPING A PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT PLAN (PMP)

MANAGING FOR RESULTS Performance Indicators –Scale or dimension Standard Indicators –Combination of output and outcome indicators –Measure direct, intended results Custom Indicators –Meaningful outcome measures

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD INDICATORS Direct measures Objective Plausible attribution Practical Disaggregated Quantitative

Monitoring & Evaluation Different but complementary roles at USAID

MONITORING AND EVALUATION MONITORING Clarify program objectives Link project activities to their resources/objectives Translate into measurable indicators/set targets Collect data on indicators Report on progress EVALUATION Analyzes why and how intended results were/were not achieved Assesses contributions of activities to results Examines results not easily measured Explores unintended results Provides lessons learned/recommendations

EXPERIENCES WITH MONITORING USAID’s lessons learned

8 step process to collect monitoring data 1)Indicators/Definitions 2)Data source 3)Method: data collection 4)Frequency: data collection 5) Responsibilities: acquiring data 6) Data analysis plans 7) Plans for evaluations 8) Plans for reporting/using performance information

EXPERIENCES WITH EVALUATION USAID’s Lessons Learned

EVALUATION= POWERFUL LEARNING TOOL Identifies lessons learned Improves quality of capacity building efforts Critical to understanding performance Retrospective

ANALYTICAL SIDE OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT Analyzes why and how intended results were/were not achieved Assesses contributions of activities to results Examines results not easily measured Explores unintended results Provides lessons learned/recommendations

TYPES OF EVALUATION USED BY USAID

TRADITIONAL EVALUATION Donor focused and ownership of evaluation Stakeholders often don’t participate Focus is on accountability Predetermined design Formal evaluation methods Independent/third party evaluators

PARTICIPATORY EVALUATION Participant focus and ownership Broad range of stakeholders participate Design is flexible Focus on learning

ASSESSMENTS Quick and flexible Trends and dynamics Broader than evaluations

METHODOLOGIES FOR EVALUATIONS Scope of Work (SOW) Interviews Documentation Reviews Field Visits Key informant interviews Focus group interviews Community group interviews Direct observation Mini surveys Case studies Village imaging

SUCCESSFUL EVALUATIONS= LESSONS LEARNED Making the decision to evaluate Ensuring Scope of Work is well thought-out Finding the appropriate team Ensuring the results are used

PROGRAM ASSESSMENT RATING TOOL (PART)

PART: Goals, Procedures and Results Reviewing performance of US government programs –Program purpose and design –Strategic planning –Program management –Results Standard questionnaire called PART Results in an assessment and plan for improvement

PART RATINGS Performing –Effective –Moderately effective –Adequate Not Performing –Ineffective –results not demonstrated

Conclusions Lessons learned/best practices for M&E Project Level experiences –Cost effective –Timely –Ensure data is used National experience= PART Country driven approach to capacity building –Paris Declaration on AID Effectiveness

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Development Experience Clearinghouse Performance Management A Guide to Developing and Implementing Performance Management Plans Evaluation Documents Preparing an Evaluation Scope of Work Conducting a Participatory Evaluation Constructing an Evaluation Report Conducting Key Informant Interviews PART

For further information: Duane Muller USAID EGAT/ESP/GCC Tel Fax Website: Keyword: climate change