What is the difference between monitoring and assessing

Next Differences between Effectiveness and Efficiency. It is done on a periodic basis to measure the success against the objective i.

Evaluation is done mainly done by the external members. However, sometimes it may be also done by internal members of the team or by both internal and external members in a combined way.

Conversely, evaluation is a long-term process, which not only records the information but also assesses the outcomes and impact of the project. Monitoring focuses on improving the overall efficiency of the project, by removing bottlenecks, while the project is under process. Unlike, evaluation stresses on improving the effectiveness of the project, by making the comparison with the established standards.

Monitoring is usually carried out by the people who are directly involved in its implementation process. In contrast, evaluation can be conducted by internal staff of the organization, i. Comments Very timely article. The difference between Monitoring and Evaluation is very clear now. I have received good knowledge. Such an amazing knowledge to share, I have now understood better.

Thank you. This has been an eye opening regarding the difference between Monitoring and Evaluation. Evaluation can be distinguished from monitoring and regular review by the following characteristics. Scope: Evaluations are typically designed to answer focused questions on whether the project outcomes and impacts were achieved, how these impacts were achieved, if the proper objectives and strategies were chosen, and whether the intervention was delivered as designed.

Timing: Evaluations are less frequent and most commonly take place at specific times during the project cycle. Staff involved: Evaluations are often undertaken by external or independent personnel to provide greater objectivity. This is because if project staff conduct the evaluation results may be biased. This article is written for non Monitoring and Evaluation specialists and as a result will avoid using a lot of technical language. You can also refer to our course catalog where we are always creating and adding new courses.

Monitoring and Evaluation at its core is all about improving performance. Its done through gathering information, forming judgments about that information and taking action based on the results. Effective monitoring and evaluation often involves a combination of numerical data e. In order to use it to make decisions we need to form judgments around what the values mean. That will entirely depend on what resources you have planned to use on the project, the size and scale of the project, how much of the work you have achieved to date and what is left outstanding.

It is therefore important to always make an assessment of what the data you collect actually means. In order to understand the difference between monitoring and evaluation, its important to first understand the broader context in which we choose to use them. Most organisations will follow a similar pattern or cycle as follows:. All of this might be done officially through the use of various frameworks, planning documents and approvals process or it might be unofficial as well.

You might be using a different framework altogether. In it you can see that the overall structure of the policy cycle should be to:. As you can see from both of these frameworks, the primary difference between monitoring and evaluation is where they sit in the life cycle of your organisation and what decisions they will support you in making. For both monitoring and evaluation you will be:. There is often a great deal of overlap between the data you collect in monitoring and what you need for evaluation.

The distinction becomes about how you use that information and what decisions you make off of the back of it. Find out more about our online and blended learning training options below. The benefits of using a Theory of Change facilitator. Why a Theory of Change can be the start of being a Data Driven organisation. What are the benefits of a Theory of Change.