What is Participatory M & E?

• Part of participatory approach to development

• Stakeholders / beneficiaries are subjects, not objects of evaluation

• Strong emphasis on learning

Key challenges of PME?

• Ensuring participants / beneficiaries are meaningfully involved

• Ensuring that their time and effort are worth it

Main advantages of PME?

• Capacity development – better experiential learning

• Social capital – stronger ownership & commitment

• Improved management, better results, higher quality

Challenges ?

Business as usual,

after pro forma commitment

to participatory M & E

Challenges ?

Insufficient budgets, time & planning for participatory

M & E activities

Challenges ?

Insufficient incentives

for participants

Challenges ?

Too much faith in numeric indicators, without complementary

qualitative data

Challenges ?

Lack of trust, confidence & familiarity with PME approaches

Challenges ?

Vague commitments with unclear responsibilities, schedules

and objectives

Challenges ?

PME strategies that are

too detailed, not very

realistic or practical

What works ?

Ensuring necessary commitments, resources, preparation and skills

What works ?

Tailoring PME approaches to match each situation and culture.

What works ?

Using PME results

systematically and effectively

What works ?

Allowing participants to chose the focus of their monitoring activities,

based on their priorities

What works ?

Ensuring real benefits & incentives for participants, stakeholders,

managers

Conclusions

In most organisations, PME will require changes in culture.

It also requires changes in behaviour and attitudes among stakeholders.

Conclusions

Moving towards PME is part

of becoming genuine

“learning organisations”

THANK YOU