Welcome

There are many excellent guides and toolkits online which introduce you to Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E). While they are all useful, most work on the assumption that you already have a pretty good grasp of M&E.

This toolkit assumes that you may be starting from scratch or that you really need a refresher. It simplifies the terminology and offers worked examples. Above all, it suggests a three-step approach, the 1-2-3 Method.

The 1-2-3 Method can be quite rigorous and broadly in line with donor demands or it can be used for quick appraisals, even self-evaluations by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and volunteer organisations:

What’s in the toolkit?

This toolkit should help you to think critically about your projects, programmes and activities at home and in the field. It aims to demystify some of the technical language and concepts surrounding M&E. To make the most of this website, you should watch the accompanying video tutorial, either in English or in Welsh.

For a downloadable summary in Welsh of all the key pages of this website, please click on the link below:

The toolkit contains extensive guidance on traditional M&E frameworks, a comprehensive step-by-step tutorial explaining both the Quick and Full 1-2-3 methods; all written in an understandable and user-friendly manner. It also includes reflective tools for volunteers as well as templates, a glossary, worked examples, pdf downloads, tests and links to a wide range of excellent sources as well as other toolkits. It should be easily readable on mobile, tablet and desktop devices. So you can consult this site when you’re out in the field!

This toolkit acknowledges that M&E is not a perfect science and that most projects do not work out as planned. However, it starts from the premise that it is better to know about and correct issues, rather than to ignore issues that could eventually derail your project.

The website and the 1-2-3 Method will continue to develop and will benefit from feedback and case studies offered by practitioners. Please see the Contact Us section for more information.

Who is this toolkit for?

This introductory guide to Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) is ideal for:

* Small to medium-sized Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) based in the North or the Global South

* Volunteer Organisations (VOs) and volunteers working in the field of international development

* Any individual, charity or social enterprise that has ever had reservations about or given up on M&E

*More established users of M&E who are open to new ways of learning, monitoring and evaluating their work

*Any organisation that is seeking to think ‘evaluatively’ or that simply has to report back on its use of funding or donations (public or private)

Which 1-2-3 is best for your needs?

To get an idea of which 1-2-3 Method is better suited to you and your project’s needs, see the flowchart below.