Monitoring Evaluation Research

Monitoring, Evaluation and Research (MER) Program is given a high priority in PIPHRO approaches and programme delivery. It provides a better means of learning from the past experiences, improving upon service delivery, planning and allocation of resources, and demonstrating results as a part of accountability to key stakeholders. The major aim of the programme is to improve programme efficiency in implementation and financial aspects. MER Unit is also responsible for conducting different research studies in the programme areas of the organization or at wider provincial level as needed. It conducts multi-disciplinary studies on poverty alleviation, socio-economic development and institutional reforms.

The following activities are carried out by this unit:

• Mid-term Evaluations

• Impact Assessment of different Programs

• Field Surveys for Benchmarking Data

• Project-end Evaluation

• Social Researches

• Socio Economic Analysis and Exploratory Researches

Scope of Monitoring and Evaluation within PIPHRO

Monitoring and evaluation help improve performance and achieve results. More precisely, the overall purpose of monitoring and evaluation is the measurement and assessment of performance in order to more effectively manage the outcomes and outputs known as development results. Performance is defined as progress towards and achievement of results. As part of the emphasis on results in PIPHRO today, the need to demonstrate performance is placing new demands on monitoring and evaluation in programme units. The main objectives of results-oriented monitoring and evaluation are to:

• Enhance organizational and development learning.

• Ensure informed decision-making.

• Support substantive accountability and repositioning.

Strategies of MER Program

Strategy I: Development of Logical Framework

Strategy II: Development of Management information System

Strategy III: Research

Strategy IV: Periodical Reviews

Strategy V: Internal Evaluations

Strategy VI: External Evaluations

Strategy VII: Post Project Evaluations

Strategy VIII: Capacity Building

Stages of Monitoring (PIPHRO Products)

• Outcome Monitoring:

Outcome monitoring is a continual and systematic process of collecting and analyzing data to measure the performance of PIPHRO interventions towards achievement of outcomes. While the process of outcome monitoring is continual in the sense that it is not a time-bound activity, outcome monitoring must be periodic, so that change can be perceived. In other words, MER Unit accumulates information on an ongoing basis regarding progress towards an outcome, and then periodically compares the current situation against the baseline for outcome indicators and assesses and analyzes the situation.

• Outcome Evaluation

An outcome evaluation is an evaluation that covers a set of related projects, programs and strategies intended to bring about a certain outcome. Such evaluations assess how and why outcomes are or are not being achieved in a given context and the role PIPHRO has played. They may also help to clarify underlying factors affecting the situation, highlight unintended consequences (positive and negative), recommend actions to improve performance in future programming, and generate lessons learned. These periodic and in-depth assessments use "before and after" monitoring data.

• Impact Stage

this is a long term stage where the overall effect of a program is measured in a wider perspective.