compare and contrast monitoring and evaluation

Monitoring is a continuous process of collecting data throughout the lifecycle of a project. It

involves the collection, analysis, communication, and use of information about the project’s
progress. Monitoring systems and procedures should provide the mechanisms for the right
information to be provided to the right people at the right time, to help them make informed
decisions about project progress. Monitoring data should highlight the strengths and weaknesses
in project implementation and enable problems to be solved, performance to improve, success to
be built on and projects to adapt to changing circumstances. Often routine monitoring data feeds
into process evaluations as described below.

Evaluation refers to the systematic assessment of whether a project is achieving its stated goals
and objectives as determined at the design stage and/or the extent to which the program has
resulted in the anticipated outcomes and impact among the target population and if any
unanticipated outcomes or impact have resulted. Please see this section for detailed definitions of
each of these. Evaluations often take place at baseline, midterm and endline. Evaluation can be
distinguished from monitoring and regular review by the following characteristics