aes19 International Evaluation Conference

Damien Sweeney (Clear  Horizon)

Monitoring is commonly defined as the systematic collection of data to inform progress, whereas evaluation is a more periodic 'evaluative' judgement, making use of monitoring, and other information. Continual improvement through monitoring requires an evaluative aspect too, so that implementers can reflect on progress, and make decisions to keep going, or adjust course. I refer to this regular reflection process as little 'e', as differentiated from more episodic assessment of progress, which is the big 'E' (in M&E). Focusing on M&e helps demystify M&E and empowers implementers.