What is Participatory M & E?

• Part of participatory approach to

development

• Stakeholders / beneficiaries are

subjects, not objects of evaluation

• Strong emphasis on learning

 Key challenges of PME?

• Ensuring participants /
beneficiaries are meaningfully
involved

• Ensuring that their time and effort

are worth it
 Main advantages of PME?
• Capacity development – better
experiential learning

• Social capital – stronger

ownership & commitment

• Improved management, better

results, higher quality
 Challenges ?

Business as usual,
after pro forma commitment
to participatory M & E
 Challenges ?

Insufficient budgets, time &

planning for participatory
M & E activities
 Challenges ?

Insufficient incentives
for participants
 Challenges ?

Too much faith in numeric

indicators, without complementary
qualitative data
 Challenges ?

Lack of trust, confidence &

familiarity with PME approaches
 Challenges ?

Vague commitments with unclear

responsibilities, schedules
and objectives
 Challenges ?

PME strategies that are

too detailed, not very
realistic or practical
 What works ?

Ensuring necessary commitments,

resources, preparation and skills
 What works ?

Tailoring PME approaches to match

each situation and culture.
 What works ?

Using PME results

systematically and effectively
 What works ?

Allowing participants to chose the

focus of their monitoring activities,
based on their priorities
 What works ?

Ensuring real benefits & incentives

for participants, stakeholders,
managers
 Conclusions

In most organisations, PME will

require changes in culture.

It also requires changes in

behaviour and attitudes
among stakeholders.
 Conclusions

Moving towards PME is part

of becoming genuine
“learning organisations”
THANK YOU