DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION of National Action Plans ...

Section 4: Monitoring and Evaluation of NAPs••Monitoring is a continuous process that aims to provide main stakeholders with regularfeedback and early indications of progress or lack of it in the achievements of intendedresults.••Monitoring tracks the actual performance or situation against what is planned orexpected according to pre-determined standards.••Evaluation is the systematic and objective assessment of an on-going or completedproject, programme or policy. The aim of evaluation is to determine the relevance andachievement of objectives, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability.••Both M & E utilize data to inform decision-making and to contribute to generating lessonslearnt though they differ in terms of when and how often the activities are carried outand what decisions each informs.••For effective implementation of NAPs, it is imperative to develop context specificindicators. In addition, it is necessary to develop a log frame stating the milestonesand indicators of progress as well as timeframes (Annex 3) as well as a monitoring andevaluation matrix (Annex 4).••Because of the number of different groups potentially involved in implementation andsubsequently in M & E, it is essential that a NAP includes clear lines of responsibilities anddelineation of tasks for each actor involved. M & E allows those who are responsible forprogrammatic activities to track results, inform future planning efforts and judge what isworking/not working and what should be modified.••Evaluation could be internal or external but external evaluation of the implementationof a NAP is preferred because it can help to challenge implicit assumptions andorganizational norms that have become standard practice, independent of politicalinterests or bureaucratic fatigue as well as help to achieve a more objective evaluation ofprogramming which can lend the evaluation and the implementation of the NAP greatercredibility.••NAPs should be time-bound documents that should be fully revised and a new planshould be developed at the end of the set time frame. M & E allows government agenciesto learn from past experiences and adapt to changing circumstances as needed.Who should be involved in M & E of NAPs?••Depending on the country context, a variety of actors can potentially be involved inM & E of NAPs.••These can include government bodies and institutions including the military, membersof civil society and independent experts or consultants. For this reason, a NAP mustinclude a clear delineation of what actors are responsible for the various tasks involved inM & E. This is important so that relevant agencies and individuals can be held accountablefor their part in the implementation process.••However, actors involved in M & E should have the required technical knowledge andcapacity.••Several approaches can be used in the M & E of NAPs:»»Establishment of an independent M& E Committee made of CSOs and other organizations20