Kenya: Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting & Learning in Peacebuilding Practice

Background Information

Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL) is an integral part of every intervention. When systematically done, it becomes easier to articulate a project’s theory of change and determine if desired results are being achieved. It also enables programme staff to easily draw lessons from what is working and recommend appropriate measures. Though MERL is beneficial, many organizations and project staffs shy away from it because many see it as technical in nature, others find it to be time consuming while others fear negative appraisals. In spite of this, it is important for project staff to be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills that would in turn allow them to effectively engage in MERL.

Course objectives

1. Introduce participants to MERL from a peacebuilding perspective

2. Enhance participants understanding of the various contextual tools of analysis applied in MERL

3. Expand participants’ knowledge of the different MERL tools used in the peacebuilding practice

4. Build participants understanding of a project’s Theory of Change

5. Enhance participants’ skills in developing a learning agenda for their projects

The Course Content

1.Introduction to monitoring and evaluation for conflict prevention and peacebuilding: In this session, participants will be introduced to MERL from the peacebuilding practice including an understanding of the different criteria that is used to assess the effectiveness of a peacebuilding project.

2.Contextual analysis tools: This session will introduce participants to the different contextual analysis tools used in MERL.

3.Developing effective monitoring tools for conflict prevention and peacebuilding: In this section, participants will be taken through the process of developing an MERL plan for their specific projects. The session will focus on creating a common understanding of what an MERL plan is, what it is used for, who is involved in its designing, the most appropriate time for its designing and who it is used on

4. Developing a Theory of Change: the session will focus on understanding what a Theory of change is, how it is developed, its relationship to the project cycle and who really should be involved in its designing. This session will enable participants broaden their knowledge of the project cycle and the logical linkages from one stage to the other. The session will examine how proposed project activities lead to the desired social change. At the end of the session, participants should be able to identify and expound on the various theories of change that inform their projects.

5. Evaluation and developing a learning agenda: The session will take participants through the concept of evaluation and its importance and applicability in projects, the different types of evaluation and audiences will also be discussed including how to develop an evaluation schedule for a project. At the end of the session, participants should be able to develop an evaluation schedule for their projects and to identify some learning agenda questions for their projects.

1. Application forms can be downloaded from www.copafrica.org
2. Alternatively, the dorms can be obtained from martha@copafrica.org or copa@copafrica.org
3. Completed applications should be sent to copa@copafrica with a copy to martha@copafrica
4. All received applications will be acknowledged and those successful will receive the necessary documents