M&E Issues: RAFIP and REP

1. M&E Issues: RAFIP and REP Kaushik Barua Accra, 12 Dec 2011

2. I. Project management and M&E Three elements of a project: • Given human and financial resources allocated • Given timeframe • Built around specific objectives Two priorities for project management: • Accountability: resources are allocated in a project in order to generate the expected set of results • Learning and management: management should learn from experience in order to achieve project objectives

3. Setting Up the RAFIP M&E System Planning for Results Modelling Data Analysis Reporting Data Collection • Design • Results • Partners • What do we need to know? • What information we have to gather? • Identification of M&E questions/indicators • Who will collect and report the data • Surveys (baseline, later completion) • MFIs, Clients, Focus group discussions • Ensuring understanding, buy-in of partners • Ensuring timely and complete reporting • Data entry • Data storage/ management • Data interpretation • Drawing conclusions • Reports • Workshops • Other interactive media

4. Setting Up the RAFIP M&E System • Planning for Results: • Based on log-frame/ design (outreach, sustainability- operational and financial, linkages to agriculture and value chains), MIX indicators • Modeling: • Based on baseline survey (current status, capacity assessment, appropriate indicators), working group with partners • Data Collection: • Reporting frequency, establishing reporting frameworks • Next Steps: Data Analysis (and management), Reporting: • Setting Targets; Which are the key indicators that determine success; How will results feed back into processes, program re-design

5. RAFIP: Key Recommendations • Complete baseline report: Use baseline to assess status of MFIs/ Clients, also as assessment of indicators and capacity • Develop reporting framework: Cover all sub-components and all important activities; cover definition, unit, frequency of reporting, level of disaggregation, data source, method of data collection, extra comments. M&E Manual has been developed- now operationalising it and examining link to knowledge management • Extra focus: Also cover agricultural portfolio and gender disaggregation

6. Impact Outcomes Outputs Activities Inputs The Results Chain “Positive and negative, long-term effects produced by a development intervention, directly or indirectly, intended or unintended” “The likely or achieved short-term and medium-term effects of an intervention’s outputs” “The products, capital goods or services which result from a development intervention” “Financial, material and human resources used for implementing activities” Source: OECD/ DAC definitions

7. Reduced Poverty Higher profits, income Enterprise sustainability, employment REP: Covering the Results Chain Reduced Poverty 3rd level Long-Term Results Higher income Higher income Higher income Higher income 2nd level Medium-Term Results Increase in Yields Increase in Yields Increase in Yields Increase in Yields Increase in Yields Provision of water for agriculture Provision of water for agriculture Provision of water for agriculture Provision of water for agriculture Provision of water for agriculture Provision of water for agriculture Training attended, start-up kits 1st level Immediate Results Building of irrigation schemes Building of irrigation schemes Building of irrigation schemes Building of irrigation schemes Building of irrigation schemes Providing training, capacity building Activities Most control and info at this level Preparation of technical specifications, bidding, supervision, etc Project Human and Financial Resources Inputs

8. REP: Monitoring, Analysing and Reporting on Results • Inputs: Mostly tracked by finance • Activities/ Outputs: Tracked regularly, consistently- training attended, start-up kits provided etc • Outcomes: Increasing focus in the last 2 years: improving understanding of enterprise sustainability (sustained profits, proxy indicators), employment creation (by examining effects along the supply chain), Sustainability of groups formed/ strengthened (MSE sub-committees) • Impact: Now need focus on long-term outcome/ impact; therefore focus on surveys, evaluation-level reports

9. REP: Key Recommendations • Evaluation client survey (and baseline survey): • Include a comparison group (non-REP clients) to isolate the effects of the project, include questions on HH assets (business and personal), food security, gender (to include an impact element to the evaluation; based on IFAD guidelines and also other Ghana poverty assessment tools) • Develop a data-based report: • Covering enterprise creation, growth, sustainability, job creation • Case studies: Highlighting successes, challenges • Develop the GIS: • Management/ presentation of data/ results, GIS covering the district level; Development should include pilot testing phase, user role definition

10. Thank you