Monitoring and Evaluation

Step 4: Analysing and using the information

Information is only useful if it is analysed and put to good use. A key purpose of monitoring and evaluation is to support internal decision making and planning, so you need to ensure you periodically analyse, assess, and actually use the information you collect. Some tips for analysing and using information include:

• Qualitative information
  • Identify categories, themes & data (this is called ‘coding’)
  • Interpret findings in relation to your research question
  • Watch out for unintended results & data that does not fit your expectations
• Quantitative information
  • Calculate simple totals, averages, and percentages, and statistical tests (if appropriate)
• General
  • Check credibility, validity and reliability
  • Invite periodic external verification/evaluation
  • Use and communicate the data

When you have analysed the data you could hold periodic internal meetings and/or organise a specific evaluation workshop to share, discuss and interpret findings. You should use the data to answer your initial key questions. You might also draw out learning for other stakeholders.

Internal learning

• What is working well and not so well, and why?
• What have we learnt about how to achieve change i.e. how plausible were our change assumptions?
• What changes do we need to make to our change strategy, understanding of change, and ways of working?

Learning for other stakeholders

• What are the lessons for other practitioners: communities, local authorities, intermediary or support organisations?
• What are the lessons for local, regional or national policy?

Sanjiv Tare, Director, Strategy & Communications, NuSocia talks about the various challenges in conducting M&E and ways to find the right balance between best practices and on-ground realities.