The first engagement of ASSP/ASDP-L with Strengthening Management for Impact (SMIP) started with a training workshop on ‘Managing for Impact: from theory to practice’ held on November, 2007. This was followed by designing a participatory and learning-oriented monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system for ASSP/ASDP-L. Designing of the M&E system followed a participatory approach giving full consideration to stakeholder information needs and participatory data collection tools. The participatory data gathering methods were pre-tested and on-job training of the methods was given to staff of ASSP/ASDP-L and key stakeholders at the district and Shehia level.
Mr. Zaki K. Juma , Programme Coordinator of ASSP/ASDP-L pointed out the following changes in the Programme since the engagement of the programme with SMIP:
- Greater engagement with stakeholders and beneficiaries: – has been strengthened and increased. Now ASSP/ASDP-L has good collaboration and contact with stakeholders and beneficiaries.
- Participation: – after the training on MfI and development of M&E data collection tools; the participation of stakeholders in the Programme activities has increased. The stakeholders are now challenging ASSP/ASDP-L with questions to change/improve some of the data collection tools so that they fit the environment in which they are used. Beneficiaries, now, give feed-back on the tools to Agricultural Services Facilitation Team (ASFT).
- Working as a team: – the ASFT works in teams, the interaction amongst the ASFT team has increased.
- Linking M&E with management process: – this has increased. Previously ASSP/ASDP-L has been doing M&E for the sake of accountability, but now we use M&E for management process, for open, constructive and critical reflection of the programme management. •Internalizing M&E tools to beneficiaries: – beneficiaries feel that the M&E tools are part and parcel of the Programme activities and their engagement with the programme.
- Carrying out Programme activities efficiently guided by the annual work plan and budget: – previously the annual work plan and budget was seen only at the end of the year – to find out that one/two activities were not completed and there are cases where left-out activities were done on ad-hoc basis. But now we refer to AWPB continuously as frequently as possible to ensure that we follow it.
- Linking operations and activities with the programmes goal and objectives: – improvement in this area is under way. Link of activities with goals and objectives is given emphasis in the programme now.
Post by; Mr. Zaki K. Juma. , ASSP/ASDP-L Programme Coordinator April 3, 2009 Zanzibar, Tanzania
June 10, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I find this SMIP blog to be very informative. I wish I knew it before. I did my MA thesis on Measurement of M&E Systems used in Constituency Development Projects, A case study of Kisumu District, Kenya, and one of the objectives was looking at Participatory M&E approaches employed, and it looks like there are lots of things on Mfi that could really have befitted my study. But can you tell me how I could share with you some my findings?
June 10, 2009 at 12:56 pm
I find this SMIP blog to be very informative. I wish I knew it before. Three years ago, I did my MA thesis on Measurement of M&E Systems used in Constituency Development Projects, A case study of Kisumu District, Kenya, and one of the objectives was looking at Participatory M&E approaches employed, and it looks like there are lots of things on Mfi that could really have befitted my study. But can you tell me how I could share with you some of my findings?
June 10, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Hi Simon,
Many thanks for your comment – it’s very good to hear you find the blog useful. We would very much like to share your experiences in Kisumu – I will send you an invitation as a guest author and look forward to reading your post! Alternatively – feel free to send me your write up via email and I would be happy to post it for you. I will send you my contact separately. Many thanks & regards, Mine Pabari.