AMEND CONTENT

5.4.1 Monitoring program activities

While monitoring aims to ensure that funds are used in compliance with contracts, it is not meant to be an exercise in ‘policing’ partners. Instead, it is an opportunity for both to learn and improve. Partners often welcome this approach, and some even ask CARE to monitor more, to better understand their challenges. The following is recommended:

  • Draft a M&E plan, including clear and simple formats at the start of the project
  • Conduct regular monitoring field visits
  • If the context does not allow for field visits (e.g. Syria, Afghanistan, and Somalia), use third-party monitoring or contract external consultants. Video live-streaming or social media can provide another solution to keep in touch with partners in remote areas.
  • Keep monitoring light and simple. Make sure you are not overburdening your partner with information requests, meetings or visits,
  • Listen to partners. Ask proactively for feedback and solutions to challenges. Partners often have great ideas on how to improve programming.
  • Make sure to act on feedback, complaints or suggestions that come from partners.

See also Chapter 9 Monitoring and evaluation.