Assessment, Monitoring, Review and Evaluation Toolkits

There are seven sections: Section 1 describes the role of the tool kit and provides some useful basic definitions: the following topics are analysed: 2 - Assessment and planning; 3 - Monitoring; 4 - Review; 5 - Evaluation; 6 - Assessment, monitoring and evaluation in emergency situations. Section 7 describes the different 'tools' that can be drawn upon during the implementation of the aformentioned activities. In each of the sections 2 to 6, the authors comprehensively review the key component stages and aspects of each activity, providing a well ordered summary of definitions, key points to consider, and the different methodologies through which the activity can be approached. Each section is also well-endowed with case study examples. Section seven is the most valuable, and describes the different 'tools' which can be used in each of the activities above in detail [these tools are referred to, when deemed necessary, during the activity discussions in sections 2 - 6]. There are eight main 'tools' listed below: 1. Surveys; 2. Using consultants; 3. Participatory assessment (PRA); 4. Logical Framework analysis; 5. Cost effective analysis - the technoserve method; 6; Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Constraints (SWOC) analysis; 7. Setting objectives and; 8. Participatory self evaluation - methodology and indicators. "Tool 3" devotes 20 pages to the analysis of PRA methods and provides very clear and valuable descriptions of; the "tools and techniques for gathering and analysing information" of the PRA approach; the strengths and weaknesses of the PRA process; "when the approach should be used"; and some suggested - if slightly outdated - further reading. "Tool 8" is adapted from a description of the People's Participation Program (PPP) of the FAO which is covered elsewhere in this bibliography (Uphoff 1989). The structure of the toolkit is generally very effective and user-friendly, for example, the summary of "participatory approaches to evaluation" (chapter 13 of section 5) is well bolstered by the specific cross references to "tools" 3 and 8 of section 7 and provides the reader with a comprehensive baseline understanding of the possible applications of PRA methods for evaluation activities.