LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. LEARNING OBJECTIVES • Define the purpose of a monitoring and evaluation system for Food Security Policies. • Identify the approaches and methods to be applied in monitoring and evaluating the implementation and impacts of Food Security Policies.

2. INTRODUCTION Monitoring and Evaluation helps to ensure that a policy is effective in achieving its objectives What are the concepts and approaches applied in establishing and operating an M & E system for Food Security Policies (FSP)?

3. INTRODUCTION Besides the implementation of specific FSPs, fhe food security situation is also influenced by: • other policies; and • changing macro-economic,political and social conditions. Those factors need to be taken into account in policy M & E. The M & E results are communicated to the policy makers, so as to trigger necessary adjustments in policy design or implementation.

4. M & E IN THE CYCLE OF POLICY FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION M & E in the cycle of policy formulation and implementation Food Security Policy FORMULATION Other policy realms Adjustments in policy design Feedback Feedback MONITORING & EVALUATONof policy implementation, results & impacts on food security Feedback Adjustments in policy implementation Other policies, relevant external factors / changed conditions Food Security Policy IMPLEMENTATION

5. PURPOSE OF FSP MONITORING AND EVALUATION M & E provides answers to these questions: Are the policy measures implemented as planned? Is the implementation of the policies bringing about the desired changes and working towards attaining the planned food security objectives/results? What needs to be done to remedy deficiencies in implementation or achievements? If there are delays in implementation and/or divergence between the planned policy objectives and the actual results achieved, what are the reasons for that divergence?

6. MONITORING AND EVALUATIONCONCEPTS Monitoring and Evaluation concepts: Monitoring and Evaluation of policies M & E of programmes & projects Monitoring of the implementation process M & E of results and impacts Monitoring Evaluation

7. APPROACHES AND METHODS Logical Framework analysis Food Security Indicators Data and data sources

8. APPROACHES AND METHODS Logical Framework analysis Logframe analysis is a suitable method for policy analysis, monitoring and evaluation because it helps to: • set out clearly defined objectives • select relevant indicators • reveal the sources of data • identify conditions which are important for the achievement of the policy objectives.

9. APPROACHES AND METHODS Logframe matrix important assumptions and conditions interlinked and consistent objectives related indicators for measuring objective achievements data sources of the indicators

10. APPROACHES AND METHODS Food Security Indicators Through the use of suitable indicators it is possible to find out: whether policy implementation is progressing as planned; which changes policy implementation has brought about already; and whether it is on track towards reaching the planned objectives.

11. APPROACHES AND METHODS Food Security Indicators The selection of indicators should be confined to one or a few indicators. Good and suitable indicators are “SMART”: • Sensitive; • Measurable; • Attainable; • Relevant; • Time-bound and trackable.

12. APPROACHES AND METHODS Food Security Indicators The application of the “SMART” criteria gives preference to quantitative indicators (measurable and objectively verifiable). Sometimes it’s necessary to also consider qualitative indicators. If, for example: • meaningful quantitative data are not (yet) available; • when participatory approaches to M & E are applied; or • for cross-checking (triangulation) of the results of a quantitative analysis.

13. APPROACHES AND METHODS Data and data sources Only indicators for which valid data are readily available or that can be generated on time and in a cost-efficient way should be selected. Criteria for data quality are summarized as “APT”, i.e.: • Accuracy - data matching, as much as possible, the actual values or properties of the phenomena being studied. • Preciseness - data reflecting the exact values or properties of the phenomena being studied. • Timeliness - data on current situation are available on time.

14. APPROACHES AND METHODS Data and data sources Data collection can be a laborious, cost-intensive and time-consuming exercise. These reasons call for a maximum use of data already available. Once the indicators are defined and clarification is achieved on the data required, the existing information and data sources should be reviewed.

15. APPROACHES AND METHODS Data and data sources If the required data are not available, or can’t be obtained in appropriate quality and time, you should consider the following options: Piggyback on / upgrade existing data collection Conduct own surveys for data collection Select alternative / proxy indicators.

16. EVALUATION CRITERIA The extent to which the objectives of a development intervention are consistent with beneficiaries’ requirements, country needs, global priorities and partners’ and donors’ policies. Relevance The extent to which the policy intervention’s objectives were achieved, or are expected to be achieved, taking into account their relative importance. Effectiveness A measure of how economically resources/inputs (funds, expertise, time, etc.) are converted to results. Efficiency Positive and negative, primary and secondary long-term effects produced by a policy intervention, directly or indirectly, intended or unintended. Impacts The probability of continued long-term benefits of an intervention, even after the intervention as such is being phased out. Sustainability

17. SETTING UP AN FSP MONITORING AND EVALUATION SYSTEM INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP It is essential to ensure the participation of key stakeholders in setting-up and operating an M & E system. • Monitoring should be performed at all levels of policy implementation. • The implementing organizations are responsible for monitoring at the project and programme level. • A central M & E unit is responsible for the compilation and analysis of the M & E results of all food security-related interventions.

18. SETTING UP AN FSP MONITORING AND EVALUATION SYSTEM INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP There are different options for establishing a policy monitoring unit: • at supra-ministerial government level; • as a special unit in a line ministry; • as a separate project-type unit; • outsourcing to an external institution. The activities of the different organizations and at the different levels will have to be harmonized.

19. LINKING M & E AND FS INFORMATION TO OTHER POLICY SPHERES Food security information is needed at various stages of FSP and programme cycles to: identify problems that need to be addressed; prompt timely and suitable actions; guide the design of policies and intervention strategies; monitor and evaluate the effects of the interventions; trigger necessary adjustments in policy design and implementation.

20. ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS LINKING M & E AND FS INFORMATION TO OTHER POLICY SPHERES Different policy spheres have implications for FS and the related data banks and information systems frequently contain relevant FS information. However, such information systems are often poorly linked, if at all. In order to rationalize the process of policy formulation, implementation, M & E, it is imperative to harmonize and link the various data banks and information systems.

21. ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS LINKING M & E AND FS INFORMATION TO OTHER POLICY SPHERES Linking and harmonizing the various data banks and information systems helps to: • put policy decisions on a sound information basis; • facilitate information and data sharing among the different organizations concerned with FS interventions; • provide relevant data for M & E of the implementation and results of FSPs and related interventions; and • track the impacts of different policies on food security. Poverty and FS issues are closely linked and partly overlap, so an integration of the M & E system for both poverty alleviation and FSPs is a valid option to be considered.

22. SUMMARY M & E of food security policies serves to inform government and other stakeholders of the state of implementation of the policies and the progress towards achieving the intended food security objectives. Different approaches and methods can be applied in monitoring the implementation and impact of FSP: • Logical Framework (Logframe) analysis; • Food Security Indicators; and • Data and data sources. The policy implementing organizations are responsible for monitoring at the project and programme level. The M & E results of all FS-related interventions should be compiled and analysed by a central unit attached to the institution in charge of overall coordination of FSP. In order to rationalize the process of policy formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and to track the impacts of different policies on FS, it is imperative to harmonize and link the various data banks and information systems.