This Advanced Monitoring and Evaluation Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) Training is designed to equip professionals with the tools and skills needed to effectively monitor and evaluate ARD programs. Participants will gain a solid understanding of how to design ARD projects using logical framework analysis, define and apply relevant indicators, and track performance over time. The course also explores methods for evaluating programs against set objectives, conducting impact assessments, and integrating gender considerations into M&E systems. By the end of the training, attendees will be prepared to manage M&E processes that support data-driven decisions in agricultural and rural development initiatives.

Certification is provided upon successful completion of the course, which is available through both in-person and virtual training options.

Objectives

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles and practices of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) programs
• Design ARD projects using the Logical Framework Approach (LFA)
• Identify and define appropriate indicators for ARD initiatives
• Monitor project performance across different stages of implementation
• Evaluate ARD programs against defined objectives and targets
• Integrate gender perspectives into M&E systems for ARD
• Conduct effective impact evaluations to assess program outcomes

Target Audience

• M&E officers and specialists in agriculture and rural development programs
• Project managers and coordinators working on ARD initiatives
• Government officials in agriculture, rural development, or planning departments
• NGO and donor agency staff involved in ARD project implementation
• Agricultural extension officers and rural development practitioners
• Researchers and analysts working in agricultural policy or development fields

Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to M&E

• Definition of Monitoring and Evaluation.
  Why Monitoring and Evaluation is important.
  Key principles and concepts in M&E.
• M&E in project lifecycle.
• Complementary roles of Monitoring and Evaluation.

Module 2: Agriculture and Rural Development Policy issues

• Economic contribution of agriculture.
• Link between agriculture and rural development.
• Agriculture and food security

Module 3: M&E Frameworks in Agriculture and Rural Development

• ARD Conceptual Frameworks.
• ARD Results Frameworks.
• Logical Framework Analysis (LFA).
• Log-Frame – Design of ARD projects using Log-Frante.

Module 4: Agriculture and Rural Development Indicators

• Indicator metrics.
• Linking indicators to results.
• Indicator Matrix.
• ARD indicator performance tracking.
• Sector-wide indicators for Agriculture and Rural Development.
• Specific indicators for Sub-sectors of Agriculture and Rural Development.
• Indicators for Thematic Areas related to Agriculture and Rural Development.

Module 5: M&E System and M&E Planning in ARD

• Documenting M&E System in the M&E Plan.
• Components of an M&E Plan-Monitoring, Evaluation. Data management, Reporting
• Using M&E Plan to implement M&E in a Project.

Module 6: Data Management for M&E in Agriculture & Rural Development

• Sour of Data :information systems, survey, participatory poverty assessments, financial management tools
• Use of different surveys in data collection for ARD
• Participatory methods of data collection for ARD
• Data analysis  for ARD

Module 7: Gender integration in M&E for Agriculture and Rural Development

• Gender integration during project activities design.
• Gender indicators in ARD.
• Cross cutting gender issues in ARD.
• Measure of gender outcomes

Module 8: Performance Evaluation of Agricultural and Rural Development programs

• Determining evaluation points from results framework.
• Components of evaluations: implementation and process evaluations.
• Evaluation designs- experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental.
• Performance evaluation process.
• Evaluation questions.
• Evaluation findings sharing and dissemination.

Module 9: Impact Evaluations for Agriculture and Rural Development

• Introduction to impact evaluation.
• Attribution in impact evaluation.
• Estimation of counterfactual.
• Impact evaluation methods: Double difference, Propensity score matching.

Module 10: M&E Results Use and Dissemination

• Use of M&E results to improve and strengthen ARD projects
• Use of M&E Lessons learnt and Best Practices.
• Organization knowledge champions.
• M&E reporting.

Delivery Method

This program is taught through a mix of practical activities, theory, group work and case studies. Training manuals and additional reference materials are provided to the participants.

Certification

Upon successful completion of the training, participants will be awarded a certificate of course completion

Course Booking

Please use the “book now” or “inquire” buttons on this page to either book your space or make further enquiries.