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Published on: 04/03/2013

Monitoring is the collection, organisation and use of information about the current situation in comparison with the planned or expected situation. The information can be used for checking and control, for problem solving and planning and as management tool by community members, staff and programme managers.

The challenge is to getting the best possible information to the people who need it – and then getting those people to actually use the information in appropriate ways for intended purposes (Short, 2000).

In 2000 IRC published the materials from its training programme Action Monitoring for Effectiveness: Improving water, hygiene and environmental sanitation programmes. Part I shows how monitoring can improve effectiveness when done by those people who have a vested interest in solving problems. It also describes data collection methods, simple sampling and analysis. Part II contains 32 fact sheets, each of which provides practical examples of indicators, methods and tools for monitoring a specific issue across the programme/project cycle. The topics range from practical objectives such as ensuring construction quality or reducing costs to monitoring community participation, management and distribution of benefits. Part III is the manual for the trainers which can be obtained from the WASH e-library on request.

In cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the German Development Ban KfW and the German Department for International Cooperation GiZ, IRC carried out a review of the monitoring of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for water and sanitation. The review identified challenges to be addressed, reviewed three innovative monitoring methodologies and formulated recommendations for further action.

Background information and materials referred to in the article:

 

  • Action Monitoring for Effectiveness: Part I shows how monitoring can improve effectiveness; Part II contains 32 fact sheets and Part III is the manual for the trainers (Links to Parts, I & II below, for Part III contact library@irc.nl).
  • IRC carried out a review of the monitoring of the Millennium Development Goals
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