/Timeline

Develop organization’s long term (i.e. 5 years) LFM/ Results Framework ascertaining long term objectives and indicators.

Develop Performance Monitoring Framework supplementing organization’s LFM/RF. This will require reviewing indicators, identifying baseline data, setting targets, identifying data sources, data collection methods, frequency of data collection and responsibilities for data collection.

Constitute project monitoring teams. This may require hiring of new staff. In case of non-availability of monitoring staff (for example due to budgetary constraint), designate Monitoring Focal Person/s (MFP) from within the available team/ staff. It is important to ensure that the staff/ team members having a background in monitoring are designated as MFPs. Please note that;

Reporting line of the monitoring staff is separately drawn from the project supervision/ management line to avoid conflict of interest element.

the work-load of the designated MFPs is considered and appropriated accordingly.

Terms of References for monitoring positions/ staff are clearly identified.

Conduct orientation session/s to help the monitoring staff clearly understand INTERNATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE FOR INTERFAITH HARMONYM&E policy and standard M&E procedures. Facilitate the inducted/ designated monitoring staff in clearly understanding their role to ensure an efficient implementation of INTERNATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE FOR INTERFAITH HARMONYM&E policies and procedures, thereto.

Facilitate monitoring team in understanding the intervention logic of project/s. It is very important to ensure that the monitoring team acquires an in-depth understanding of the results promised by the project/s.

Develop/ review project based Performance Monitoring Frameworks. Developing Performance Monitoring Framework may also require development of data collection instruments specific to the needs of a particular project. The monitoring team is required to grasp the project specific monitoring requirements. The monitoring team is also required to identify and outline project specific M&E tasks and instruments as may be proposed or required by the project. Identify (project) specific reporting requirements. Discuss, understand and practice the reporting templates. Specify timelines and responsibilities to complete reporting requirements. Please note the following;

The monitoring team is required to ensure that project specific monitoring tasks and instruments have interface with INTERNATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE FOR INTERFAITH HARMONY performance monitoring framework.

A set of sample monitoring instruments/ TEMPLATES is also attached with this manual. However, this may require addition, deletion or adaptation as per the project specific requirements.

Keep stakeholders on board and seek their feedback while planning for implementation of M&E tasks/ procedures. Discuss M&E procedures and adopt/ adapt accordingly.

Develop a monitoring plan which lists all the monitoring activities, timelines and the responsibilities to conduct these activities.

Prepare/ review Annual Project Work-plan with quarterly break-down of targets and Annual Project Budget with quarterly break-down of amounts.

Identify arrangements to carryout M&E activities. This will have cost implications. Align the cost of M&E activities with the project budget.

Step 2: Implementing an M&E system (Gathering data/ information and analyzing)

Implement monitoring activities as per the plan. Start gathering required information using monitoring instruments.

Make system to gather and consolidate information. The information which is gathered must be answering the following questions.

To what extent the activities have taken place?

To what extent the outputs have been produced and counted? What are the tangible outputs/ products produced by completing the activities? How much output targets have been achieved during the reporting period?

Who are the beneficiaries of these outputs/ products? If the outputs are benefitting the identified beneficiaries? How many people benefited from these outputs/ products (if the outputs are benefitting the desired number of people)? If the benefits are distributed equitably among women, men, minority, children etc? To what extent the outputs produced and counted satisfy inclusion and participation (of the genders, minorities, stakeholders, beneficiaries etc)

What are the changes created/ contributed by the outputs (if the outputs are causing desirable change in behaviors, attitudes, practices, skills, capacities etc)?

What extent these changes are likely to contribute towards the project purpose/ intended outcome?

To what extent, the outputs produced and counted seem contributing towards the change in the perceptions, attitudes, practices, skills etc?

To what extent, the indicators have moved from baseline towards the target?

To what extent, the outputs produced seem contributing towards the outcome at large?

Lessons about partnerships, successes and failures; what worked and what went wrong?

Conduct any other monitoring activity deemed necessary such as special monitoring missions, case studies etc.Step 3: Analyzing, Learning and Integrating lessons

Summarize the collected information and analyze the findings. Ensure that the information meets the needs of the management.

Conduct reflection sessions and/ or review workshops for validation of collected information as well as collective learning.

Generate recommendations for adoption of required changes/ alterations/ modifications. (this is very essential task since this helps in re-aligning our efforts for achievement of desirable/ intended results)

Seek approval of the required changes/ modifications.

Implement the changes/ modifications.

Step 4: Reporting of results

Plan for reporting results. This will require embedding the reporting requirements, timelines and responsibilities in to the project monitoring plans.

Identify and know your audience. It is important to know the requirements and interests of the target audience, which will determine the purpose of reporting results. In general, results are mainly reported for accountability, advocacy (including awareness raising) and/ or participatory decision making purpose/s to seek financial support, commitment for action, cooperation and/ or improved coordination. The identification of the right purpose further guides us in knowing;

What type of information (e.g. numeric or subjective) is required for desired reporting?

How much information is required? (It is very important to limit our wish list. Since the information gathering involves time, efforts and resources, it should therefore be determined that how much information would suffice our reporting requirements)

What writing style should be adopted or how to narrate the results?

Form a team for reporting/ communicating results. Reporting/ communicating results in ways preferred by the target audience can earn back huge support/ response. This is recommended to pool multiple professional experts in to the reporting team. Involve people with skills in presenting statistical data, writing catchy narratives, formatting and most importantly people with ability to interpret results by drawing conclusions from M&E findings. (In case the organization does not have in-house capacity to pool the abovementioned skills, involve volunteer students, teachers and social workers).

Raise consensus on M&E findings. Discuss the M&E findings with the stakeholders and reach to the agreed conclusions. This will help in enhancing the accuracy of the M&E findings.

Draft narrative on performance against results. The narrative should be based on the agreed M&E findings. The narrative on results’ performance may include the following elements.

what was the main idea/ crux behind the output and how the output is linked with the project outcome/s

progress on the output delivered (quantity, spatial coverage, beneficiaries etc)

immediate effect of the output (how the output has contributed towards achieving the desired change e.g. change in behavior, practices, knowledge, skills, capacities etc)

what are the examples to qualify reporting the change

If the outputs delivered took in to consideration the inclusion, gender balance, participation of and accountability to the beneficiaries and stakeholders?

What are the activities performed to deliver these outputs, implementation methodology/ process

User’s perception on the quality and contribution of the output.

Efficiency of resources invested

Major learning outcomes (what went well and what went wrong)

Note: it is important to understand that these are the generic elements of reporting results. The emphasis and order of these elements may vary in different reporting environments.

Share narrative with the concerned team members and seek feedback. Incorporate the feedbacks, which enhance clarity of the narrative and presentation of the information to capture the interest of the target audience as well as serve the intended purpose.

Finalize the narrative and share with the target audience.

Project based

M&E Function

Project based

M&E Function

Project based

M&E Function

Note: It is advised that process and quality standards of activities are also identified.

Quarterly