Strengthening Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

In addition to the Value addition and entrepreneurship skills development project, Agriterra and CAZ took the initiative mid-2014 to collaborate in a separate project to strengthen and improve the CAZ PMEL system. This trajectory starts with an advisory service of an M&E expert in order to have a clear picture and analysis of the current situation and the necessary steps to reach the desired situation. The subsequent paragraphs first describe the overall trajectory briefly where after the advisory service is specified. Background PMEL strengthening trajectory The main vision of CAZ PMEL is to have an effective and bottom up PMEL system that efficiently informs on decisions concerning strategic program and project intervention progress of the association. According to CAZ the purposes of PMEL are the following: • To guide the collection, analysis and use of evidence-based monitoring information to inform management in an effort to improve project planning, implementation and learning. • To guide capacity building initiatives in PMEL, and foster a culture of governance and decision making which embraces the value of effective and efficient organisation based PMEL. • To support institutional reporting and knowledge management processes. Objectives PMEL strengthening trajectory CAZ is aware of the fact that the organisation faces challenges to meet the above mentioned purposes of PMEL. The main overall objectives of this capacity building trajectory therefore are to strengthen CAZ's PMEL capacity and system through, (i) Enhancing the organisations' capacity to effectively plan and implement its program and projects and (ii) Enhancing the capacity of the association's staff and members (farmer groups) to monitor, report and learn from its programs and projects. The overall objectives are translated into the specific objectives as follows: a. To improve the process of Program/Project Planning at CAZ by ensuring that necessary PMEL considerations are incorporated at all levels (make it as participatory as possible to ensure ownership). b. To revise all program/project level objectives and indicators to ensure that they fit/contribute to the organizational level objectives. c. To revise (and when necessary develop new) data collection plans and tools that will provide necessary data/information for effective program/project monitoring and reporting (For enhanced reporting and learning mechanisms). d. To undertake overall PMEL capacity building of CAZ Implementing Partners, Program Officers and PMEL staff (At all levels). e. To establish feedback mechanisms to enhance learning and sharing among all stakeholders.