Monitoring and Evaluation

Program Effectiveness and Quality Unit

1. 1 Program design
• Identify program priorities
• Development & design of program
• Develop & design program
• Theory of Change: a set of assumptions, risks and external factors that describes how and why the program’s activities will achieve lasting change for children and communities.
• Logic Model: visual representation of the complimentary pathways of the Theory of Change
• Submit program proposal for feedback & approval
2. 2 Planning & start up
• Develop and validate Performance Measurement Framework (PMF)
• Develop and validate Project Implementation Plan (PIP) including research planning and implementation process if applicable.
• Conduct Baseline Study
• Conduct Gender assessment
3. 3 Implementation & Monitoring
• Collect performance measurement data to ensure programs are on track and real-time adjustments can be made as needed
• Use performance measurement data to inform Work Planning process and reporting to partners and donors
• Carry out research if applicable
4. 4 Evaluation & Learning
• Take stock of lessons learned and research throughout the program
• Conduct end-line study, measuring performance over the life of the program
• Conduct final program evaluation to assess program relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability
5. 5 Policy & Advocacy
• Integrate evaluation results and research findings into tangible recommendations and lessons for stakeholders, policymakers and for evidence-based advocacy

Our experience

Plan International Canada’s Program Effectiveness and Quality Unit (PEQU) team has extensive experience using quantitative and qualitative methods with our in-country partners to support learning, outcome and impact measurement and research. Outcome measurement helps us understand the impact of our programs, facilitating course correction and improvement of future program designs. We use a variety of methodological tools to carry out cutting-edge monitoring, evaluation and research activities. Quantitative tools such as survey development and deployment, market and value chain assessment, randomized control trials and quasi-experimental design, along with qualitative data collection and analysis, including participatory appraisal are used to monitor, evaluate and research activities.

Our values

We strive to ensure that women and girls play an active role at every stage of our monitoring, evaluation and research work. Women and girls participate in a variety of activities, including program design, field work and data collection and analysis. Gender assessments are undertaken, in part, to understand specific gender equality dynamics within targeted communities, how they intersect with other socio-economic factors of exclusion, and as they relate to the project outcomes and activities. Participatory approaches are incorporated to empower women and girls as key decision makers and partners in the choices in their life – for example, providing views on the health, education and protection services available to them, or speaking on the gender equality practices with leaders in their community.
Our safeguarding approaches during all phases of monitoring, evaluation and research ensure the safety and protection of all children and young people throughout.

Our approaches and partnerships

The PEQU unit encourages innovative approaches and partnerships to support our work on evidence-based decisions, learning and research. Plan International Canada leads in measurement of gender transformative outcomes, outputs and activities - developing gender sensitive Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in our Women and Girls Empowerment Index to track progress in girl’s agency.

Plan International Canada works with leading Canadian and International universities and research institutes to respond to recognized gaps in data or global evidence, as well as solutions-oriented processes that focus on better measurement, monitoring or dissemination of findings.