1089: Project Monitoring and Evaluation Planning Using a Theory of Change: A Practical, Step-by-Step Guide

Monitoring and evaluation are essential for ensuring effective and accountable public and non-profit projects. This half-day workshop is designed for professionals seeking to build skills for developing a plan to monitor and evaluate a project. Building on fundamental concepts of theories of change and logic models, the workshop focuses on using these tools as a foundation to monitor and evaluate both project performance – whether a project is achieving its intended outputs and outcomes – and project context – examining how external factors may influence project performance or be unintentionally affected by the project.

Through an interactive case study, participants will follow the journey of an M&E specialist tasked with developing a monitoring and evaluation plan for a public/non-profit project. Concrete exercises and discussions will help participants apply key concepts and methods for both performance and context monitoring, and for identifying opportunities for evaluation.

The workshop begins with a short introduction (or re-introduction for more advanced participants) to core concepts of theories of change, performance monitoring, context monitoring, and evaluation. Participants will then work through a stepwise process to develop a monitoring and evaluation plan for the case study. They will first explore how to refine and adapt a project design and its (explicit or implicit) theory of change to serve as a foundation for a monitoring and evaluation plan. This includes developing or restructuring a logic model that articulates expected outputs and outcomes in greater detail. Next, participants will engage in interactive exercises to identify potential indicators and qualitative methods for monitoring and evaluating both performance and context across the logic model. Discussions will focus on different methodological approaches, brainstorming techniques, and heuristics for ensuring a comprehensive project monitoring and evaluation plan.

As the session progresses, participants will examine methods for analyzing and interpreting monitoring data to assess project progress, identify contextual risks, and inform project adaptation. They will also engage with challenges embedded in the case study that will require them to examine constraints and consider refinements, priorities, and trade-offs in their final monitoring and evaluation plan.

By the end of the workshop, participants will have co-developed key elements of a project monitoring and evaluation plan that emphasizes learning and adaptation while recognizing trade-offs, budgetary constraints, and project timeframes. The ultimate goal is to promote a holistic yet realistic approach to project monitoring and evaluation, integrating quantitative and qualitative methods while focusing on the most critical information for effective project management.

This engaging and participatory workshop is ideal for M&E specialists and managers seeking practical skills in designing project monitoring and evaluation plans. Participants will leave with a structured approach to monitoring and evaluation planning that enhances accountability, facilitates adaptive management, and improves project effectiveness.