This M&E planning tool will help your health partnership to think through the practical implications of your

monitoring and
evaluation plans and ambitions. In this way, it will be a guide for both implementing and reviewing your M&E plans. You
will need to have written a project plan (‘logframe’) with indicators first.

Monitoring and evaluation plan – Guidance and Example Areas of focus for planning

Indicator Source of information Baseline at project Data gathering methods: Data use: Costs
(aka ‘Means of outset a) Expertise needed a) Collation Frequency and
Verification’) b) Responsibility b) Analysis Timeframe
c) Feedback
d) Process review
e) Responsibility
List the This is where you will Record for the This section will help you check whether your M&E plan is realistic.
indicators you find the data for your indicator before the
have chosen for indicators e.g.: a course project began. Reporting and data use
each objective – register, an interview, a Your baseline does not Donor reports will have a defined structure but consider also how you can use your results to
output, survey, an audit. change as the project inform other stakeholders and how best to do this e.g. a meeting with project coordinators; or
outcome, goal – Choose appropriate progresses; it is the case stories. For more on communicating results see the THET resource ‘Project Monitoring’.
as specified in sources, bearing in means by which you a) What expertise is needed? For data use, consider the Costs: for each aspect
your project plan mind issues such as can show the Does the partnership already stakeholders that will be interested of data gathering and
reliability, data quality, difference that your have this available, where? and how best to present the data use, from materials to
resource entailed. project has made. What is the expert’s for those stakeholders. transport and
At the end of the availability? Etc. telecommunications.
project, you can b) Who has oversight for a) How will you bring the data
compare your results gathering the data? How together – e.g. in a meeting, by Frequency and
to the baseline to see much time do they have collating forms, online? Timeframe: how often
how far you have available to do this? Is it a b) What expertise is needed? Any must you collect the
moved. new responsibility or one computer software? What data? When do you
they are already doing i.e. evaluation question is the need the data by and is
how will it impact on their analysis addressing? this feasible given the
Ideally, use the same role? Are they motivated? c) Forums to feedback results to time and human
source of information internal and external resource available?
that you will use to stakeholders? When? Informal
measure later in the feedback systems for your
project; if you are direct beneficiaries – how can
 setting up you communicate positive
measurement systems changes in their behaviour to
yourself, you may not the health workers
have any baseline data, themselves? Who will do this,
in which case use your when, and how often?
needs assessment as a d) Will this data explain how well
baseline (see examples your methods are working? If
below) so, how will you move from
results to actions?
e) Who is responsible for the
above points in relation to this
indicator? Why this person?
Also see (c) under column Data
Gathering Methods
EXAMPLES
Number of Assessment records No baseline data; a) Technical knowledge to a) Paper assessment scored typed Costs: printing costs
nurses scoring Nurses observed to score tests therefore, UK into Excel for hard copy
75% or more in lack skill x. volunteers delivering b) Basic analysis: numbers scoring assessments.
post-training training 75%, by training session. Telecomms costs for
assessment b) UK volunteers delivering Results to inform question on developing country
training and assessment. efficacy of training delivery. partner coordinator to
Scoring to take place within c) Feedback to developing communicate results
1 day of training, while still country Coordinator and and concerns to UKP.
on visit so does not encroach institution management.
on time back in UK. d) If results for first 2 courses are Frequency and
below expectations for Timeframe: After each
numbers scoring 75% or more, training session
review assessment criteria and (training happens once
speak to training deliverers a quarter, lasting 2
about modifications. days).
e) Developing country partner Analysis of first 2
coordinator does basic results sessions must happen
analysis, feedback and review. within one week so
 that any changes
needed can be
incorporated into next
training.

Feedback to institution
management to
happen following each
training session with a
summary and actions
at the end of 2 training
sessions.

Self-reported Nurse interviews Nurses report very low a) Interviewing skills and a) Interviews typed up. Costs: research
confidence [e.g. levels of confidence sufficient autonomy from b) Qualitative analysis for volunteer flight and
to deal with project/managers – UK MSc examples of practice, including subsistence. Materials:
obstetric student. Analytical skills to quotes that describe nurses’ stationery, recording
emergencies] aggregate data – UK MSc perceived (un)improved equipment.
student. confidence. Also, thematic
b) Ultimate responsibility analysis for common enablers Frequency and
Coordinators. Task and barriers (e.g. lack of Timeframe: Every 6
responsibility – MSc research equipment) to using skills to months. Due to costs,
volunteer. manage obstetric emergencies. interviews can only
c) Careful feedback needed as take place once during
personal testimony – firstly project – 6 months
between UK & DC partners. before project
Research volunteer feedback completion. 1 week to
common themes in synthesis do interviews. 2 weeks
report, internal audience. to do write-up and
d) Data may reveal barriers to synthesis. Total = 3
change – Coordinators to weeks.
review and consider
implications for project
 sustainability.
e) Coordinators.
 Monitoring and Evaluation Plan - Template

Indicator Source of information Baseline at project Data gathering methods: Data use: Costs
outset a) Expertise needed a) Collation Frequency and
b) Responsibility b) Analysis Timeframe
c) Feedback
d) Process review
e) Responsibility