Designing and Implementing Monitoring & Evaluation Systems

This free online course is aimed at civil society organisation staff seeking to strengthen their monitoring and evaluation systems and improve programme performance, accountability, and learning. The course introduces key monitoring and evaluation concepts and provides practical guidance on designing and implementing results-based monitoring and evaluation systems. Participants will explore results frameworks, performance indicators, data collection methods, monitoring tools, and approaches for managing risks and assumptions within programme implementation.

The course is available in Arabic, English, Portuguese, and Russian.

This course was produced as part of the Aga Khan Foundation’s Civil Society Programme.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

LO1 Explain key monitoring and evaluation concepts and the purpose of monitoring and evaluation systems

LO2 Describe the principles of results-based management and the use of results frameworks

LO3 Explain how to define programme results and align them with monitoring and evaluation processes

LO4 Describe how to develop and select performance indicators for measuring programme progress and outcomes

LO5 Explain different methods and sources of data collection used in monitoring and evaluation systems

LO6 Describe how to plan monitoring activities, including responsibilities, timelines, assumptions, and risks

LO7 Explain how monitoring tools support data collection, reporting, and programme management

Professional objectives

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

Contribute to the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems within their organisation
Develop results frameworks and performance indicators aligned with programme objectives
Support the collection, organisation, and reporting of monitoring data
Apply results-based management approaches to strengthen programme planning and accountability
Identify risks and assumptions that may affect programme implementation and monitoring processes
Develop and use monitoring tools to support effective programme tracking and reporting
Strengthen organisational learning and decision-making through improved monitoring and evaluation practices

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License. To view a copy of this license, go here.