ASSESSING CHALLENGES AND PRACTICES OF MONITORING AND EVALUATION IN PROJECTS: CASE STUDY OF CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the monitoring and evaluation practices and challenges in Catholic Relief Services (CRS) food aid distribution projects. A descriptive research design was used in the study. Stratified random sampling determined the population sample that was involved in the study. Joint Emergency Operations Program consortium members were identified as stratified. Primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as severity index and relative important index were applied for M & E challenges and practices respectively along with frequencies, mean, percentages and standard deviations was used for ease of interpretation. The data was then analyzed using descriptive statistics and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used to analyze the report. This study was expected to be of significance to the NGOs managers and other stakeholders in various sectors to understand those roles of M&E practices that shape NGOs businesses and ensure successful project implementation hence improve the performance of the organization. Thus, this study found that there is best monitoring and evaluation practices including having well organized policies and procedures with high level of stakeholders’ involvement in monitoring and evaluation in Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Ethiopia. The top four possible challenges of monitoring and Evaluation in Ethiopia, specifically in Catholic Relief Services (CRS) included irrelevant training, inadequate skilled human resource, Unavailability of data gathering and analysis tools and improper M&E Approach, Selection of Tools and Techniques Thus, this study concluded that CRS enforces humanitarian principles and building a culture of trust among communities. Finally, this study suggest that M & E needs continues improvement as it is a never-ending process in which people are continuously working to improve the performance, speed and number of features of the humanitarian services.