Community Participation in M&E

Community Participation in M&E Patricia Mutinta Sitimela Corporate Planning Monitoring & Evaluation Manager; Plan Zambia

Content of presentation • A brief background of Plan • Brief History of M&E in Plan • M&E Evolution • Community Participatory Monitoring & Evaluation (PM&E) • Composition of Participatory Monitoring & Evaluation Teams • Tools for data collection • Achievements

A brief background of Plan • Plan is an International Child Centred Community Development Organisation which operates in 66 countries, 49 of these are in developing countries • As a child centred Organisation, Plan’s vision is ‘a world in which children realise their full potential in societies which respect people’s rights and dignity’. • The main areas of focus (which are referred to as domains in Plan’s) are; health, learning, water & sanitation, livelihood and building relationships. • For more information log on www.plan-international.org

History of M&E in Plan • In 1998, Plan developed a comprehensive Corporate Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (CPME) system. • However, as with most development organisations, there is an emerging need to enhance performance reporting, particularly at an outcome and impact level • There is the need to ensure that information generated is being used to learn and demonstrate performance.

M&E evolution • Over the years, Plan has realised the importance of participatory and partnership orientated approaches to development. • There has been much demand for the systematic monitoring of outcomes and ultimately for assessing the impact of development interventions and investment. • This means that rather than only reporting on the numbers there is need to know more.

Community Participatory M&E Plan Zambia has put in place a system that engage Plan staff, partners and communities in identifying information needs. Plan Zambia has been generating ideas on how to improve the impact of Plan’s work on the lives of children through community participation. Plan has trained a number of volunteers in sectors of Basic Health, Water, Sanitation, HIV/AIDS, Food Security, Basic Education and Rights Campaigners.

Composition of PM&E Teams • The PM&E Teams consist of volunteers from each of the volunteer and CBOs. • A number of 25 to 30 volunteers per community make up a Team in each community. • These Teams have received training and continuous capacity building in monitoring of various projects implemented in their communities.

Tools used for data collection • Indicators are developed at community level by committee members. • These help to collect quantitative information. • For qualitative monitoring a technique of story telling has been adopted (Most Significant Change Technique). • Each quarter a theme to collect stories of change is agreed upon.

Choosing stories of Change • Story with the most significant change is chosen by selection committee at various levels. • The story chosen is the one that is submitted with the quarterly report for sharing to different stakeholders up to donor level.

Story collection process

Achievements so far • Dialog among project stakeholders has improved. • Sharing of key results is done on quarterly bases through quarterly review meetings; • Simple reports with quantitative information and stories of change are shared at quarterly review meetings and community meetings. • Community members, partners and Plan are starting to see a comprehensive picture on outcomes of projects & programmes.

Achievements so far • Plan is able to tell a ‘convincing story’ about the value of its work through combining information about expenditure, outputs, outcomes and impacts. • Community participation and accountability to projects has improved because system has brought in responsibility, accountability and ownership.

Challenges • Bringing on Board children has been a challenge • Motivation of volunteers for continuity has been also a challenge. • Support staff that could give on sport support to Teams has also been a challenge.

Community Participation in M&E