ASSESSING THE PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES OF PROJECT MONITORING AND EVALUATION SYSTEM OF LOCAL NGOs IN ADDIS ABABA

Abstract

A good monitoring and evaluation system is a key ingredient to good performance of a project. It is a way of being answerable and signifying transparency to the stakeholders as it provides for accountability and transparency. It also assists learning of an organization by documenting lessons gained during the execution of the projects and using the same in the ensuing project planning and implementation or by sharing with other implementers the experience earned. The research project set out to identify the practices and challenges of Monitoring and Evaluation system in selected 12 local NGOs in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia implementing youth and youth related projects. To achieve the study objective a descriptive design with a qualitative approach has been employed. The primary data were collected through survey questionnaire and interview of M&E expertise, project managers, coordinators and officers in the 12 selected NGOs. The findings of the study shows that the M&E practice of the NGOs under study is hindered by inadequate fund allocated to M&E, absence of sufficient and skilled M&E expertise, poor usage of ICT, undefined role and responsibility of M&E expert, poor recognition and involvement of management, absence of capacity building trainings, unfamiliarity with M&E tools and techniques, strict use of donor guideline and procedures, non-involvement of stakeholders specifically beneficiaries in M&E process, not documenting lessons learned, and selective dissemination of M&E findings. However, experts group have good educational background and work experience, findings indicate that experts have poor M&E experience and practice. The gap between the actual M&E practice and what are considered as best practices were huge. Recommendations are given for both improvement of the practice and which studies in future should stress on to conduct. As well some other points are discussed in the thesis.