Notes on monitoring-fifth training workshop on participatory development. September 15-19, 1997

Abstract

This learning material by Satyamurti V. examines the concept of monitoring as an essential ingredient of planning an activity. Its process involves the collection of information for implementing a programme, determining how the inputs are being used, and seeing whether deadlines are being met. It lists management, finance, and programme as different types of monitoring and discusses in detail the methods and utilisation of information to be collected for each type. The material further talks about process and impact monitoring, noting that all monitoring systems should include both. The steps and essential components of designing and managing a monitoring system are also laid out, starting from defining the main aim of the monitoring system, selection of relevant information, data collection and analysis, displaying and using the results, to finally deciding who should be involved in the process. It concludes with the idea that monitoring should be participatory, with information chosen, recorded, and analysed by all those involved, including people affected by the work.