Evidence Thinking through M&E approaches and identifying the right evaluation partnerships can be daunting if this is not something you regularly do. Even experienced Program Managers can find it challenging to develop program M&E and weigh up different options alongside their wider role in program design and delivery. It is important to draw on the expertise of others and to learn from previous work.
OPTIONS:
- Engage with an M&E specialist as early as possible. However, they may not always have experience in VAW programs and may also have limited time to give.
- You can also engage an external evaluation expert to help you and your team with your initial thinking – ideally at a very early design stage, long before your actual programme starts. They can help you develop your M&E plan, identify and consider options for the overall M&E approach and appropriate methodologies.
These inputs from a VAW M&E expert can also help you identify the types of partnerships you might need as you take your M&E forward, help draft a TOR and identify opportunities for academic collaboration. You may also find that it would then be helpful for them to play a more ongoing advisory role at key points throughout your programme’s M&E, for example to review M&E plans or draft evaluation reports.
