TANZANIA COMMISSION FOR AIDS - Global HIV M&E Information

MODULE ONE
MONOTORING AND EVALUATION: CONCEPTS AND PRACTICES
Monitoring and evaluation are two concepts that are closely related. They are so closely
related that they are always placed together. Generally, when people talk of monitoring
they also implicitly talk about evaluation. However, the two concepts are only similar
and they are never the same.
Objectives
• After studying this module, you should be able to:
• Define monitoring and evaluation
• Describe the various types of evaluation
• Define and explain indicators
• Provide examples of how to select indicators to match your programme objectives
and activities
What are monitoring and evaluation?
Monitoring is the routine tracking of a programme’s activities by measuring on a
regular, ongoing basis whether planned activities are being carried out. Results of
monitoring reveal whether programme activities are being implemented according to
plan, and assess the extent to which a programme’s intended services are being used.
Thus monitoring involves the following:
• The routine (daily, monthly, or quarterly) assessment of on going activities and
processes.
• Assessment of what is being done, where, when, and by whom.
Evaluation is a periodic assessment of overall achievements. Whereas monitoring
examines what is being done, evaluation looks at what has been achieved or what
impact has been made.
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