Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Skills Programme

The main aim of this programme is to equip participants with skills to undertake Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) functions. The imparted skills will assist participants with the knowledge to design relevant M&E frameworks and engage in practical applications of M&E systems. This programme is aimed at strengthening government, private sector’s and civil society organisations’ capacity in monitoring, evaluation and action research in order to develop a pool of researchers and practitioners that have knowledge and skills in participatory monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment of programmes and projects. Strengthening M&E capacities both within and outside of organisations will notably enhance prospects for the success of intervention programmes (and projects) and improve service delivery, impact and efficiency.

• Explain the principles and good practices in M&E systems at different levels in organisations
• Explain results chain thinking, the centrality of indicators, and the need for basic tools and procedures in M&E
• Explain logframes, integration of M&E, and international M&E frameworks
• Design, implement and manage appropriate integrated M&E systems within available resource constraints to achieve desired strategic outcomes in specific fields in organisations
• Distinguish and explain the types of evaluation methods and their applications
• Explain the planning and management of M&E processes and describe quality controls and guidelines for reviewing evaluation reports

• Basic M&E concepts
• Principles and guidelines of building good M&E systems to support good governance and improved service delivery
• An introduction to research methods
• Research design, sampling methods, evaluation and selecting research tools
• Key aspects of quantitative and qualitative analysis
• Statistical analysis
• Data analysis, techniques for managing M&E processes and report writing
• M&E methods and tools
• Programme logframes and M&E
• Setting up and managing M&E systems
• An introduction to policy M&E
• Participatory M&E
• The SA Government’s outcomes-based approach to performance monitoring and service delivery
• Good practice lessons from countries that have exemplary M&E systems in place

• Projects staff/M&E staff of NGOs and community-based organisations
• Project staff/M&E staff in government ministries and parastatals
• Project staff and management in consultancies and other private sector businesses
• Programme managers who are interested in developing an understanding of the current issues in M&E, and conceptual skills for managing M&E processes

• Degree (or equivalent)

One year (block sessions)