The Children in the Wilderness Team attended a Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) course in Cape Town, from the 20th to 24th February 2017. The course was coordinated by the International Institute for Local Development (http://www.iildev.org/), and was run by Dr. Richard Tobin from the USA. Richard is a world renowned expert in the field, and was Manager and Lead Evaluation Specialist at the World Bank Institute Evaluation Group. He has experience from 77 countries and has extensive knowledge of results-based monitoring and evaluation, including impact evaluation. He has lead projects for the World Bank and the United Nations, and has served as the lead facilitator for more than 50 introductory and intermediate M&E workshops.
The objectives of the training included:
- Equipping the CITW regional coordinators with the knowledge and skills needed to plan and manage results-based programmes;
- Raising the capacity of the CITW regional coordinators so that they can plan and conduct monitoring and evaluation of their programmes.
The training was facilitated through lectures, group assignments, exercises and case studies. By the end of an intense week of learning, the CITW Team had covered how to:
- Structure, organise and run results-based community development programmes
- Develop monitoring and evaluation tools for a results-based programme
- Monitor and evaluate results-based programmes
- Develop and present an evaluation report
As a result of the training, the CITW Team is even more inspired and motivated to review our current programmes and projects, with the aim of implementing monitoring and evaluation tools and assessments. We want to know that our programmes are making a sustainable difference, and that we are truly inspiring a generation of children to protect and conserve their natural heritage.
The CITW Team on the final day of the workshop, after having received their certificates:
Sue Goatley (Zimbabwe), Josephine Oche (Nigeria; not CITW), Omaye (Nigeria; not CITW), Lisa Witherden (South Africa), Agnes Tjirare (Namibia), Symon Chibaka (Malawi), Mary Hastag (Botswana), Bongani Baloyi (South Africa) and James Mwanza (Zambia).
By Symon Chibaka and Lisa Witherden