Monitoring does not only contribute to accountability and provide a basis for evaluation. By developing a monitoring system, stakeholders of the project can build a consensus on what they want to achieve. When conducting the monitoring, comparing the data with baseline information and goals helps to understand where the project stands and what management decisions need to be taken.
Design of results based monitoring systems
By using specific methodologies, results based monitoring can be integrated into the project cycle. If target groups and local project partners regularly document impact, the planning of an ongoing project can be shaped in a way which strengthens positive effects and minimises negative side effects. All results need to be regularly compared with programme goals (e.g. poverty eradication) as to ensure that marginalised target groups actually benefit from development efforts.
Methodological training
For a consistent impact orientation, the staff of both funding partners and implementing organisations need to acquire knowledge and experiences with participatory survey methodologies. With PIM (Participative Impact Monitoring), FAKT has already in the early 1990ies developed a methodology which is successfully used by local partner organisations and beneficiaries. With visualisation tools based on the concept of participatory rural appraisal promoted by FAKT, there are many options to gather reliable impact information with relatively little effort.
FAKT regularly conducts trainings and coaching on results based monitoring for staff of development institutions in developing countries and in Europe.
