Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Partnership Framework • Standard Operating Procedures • Resource Mobilization

Monitoring and Evaluation

Term from International Organizations industry explained for recruiters

Monitoring and Evaluation (often called M&E) is a systematic way of tracking and assessing the success of projects, particularly in non-profit organizations, NGOs, and international development agencies. Think of it as a way to measure if programs are working as intended and proving their value. Monitoring is like keeping track of a project's progress day-to-day, while Evaluation is looking at the bigger picture to see if the project made the impact it was supposed to. This role is crucial because organizations need to show donors and stakeholders that their money is being well spent and creating real change.

Examples in Resumes

Developed Monitoring and Evaluation frameworks for education projects across 5 countries

Led M&E data collection and analysis for healthcare initiatives in rural communities

Designed Monitoring & Evaluation systems to track impact of climate change adaptation programs

Typical job title: "Monitoring and Evaluation Specialists"

Also try searching for:

M&E Officer MEAL Coordinator Impact Assessment Specialist Program Evaluation Manager Results Measurement Specialist MEL Advisor Impact Evaluation Officer

Where to Find Monitoring and Evaluation Specialists

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Learning Resources

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you design an M&E system for a large multi-country project?

Expected Answer: Should discuss needs assessment, stakeholder engagement, choosing appropriate indicators, data collection methods, reporting systems, and how to manage cross-cultural challenges. Should emphasize capacity building and sustainability.

Q: How do you handle situations where evaluation findings are politically sensitive?

Expected Answer: Should discuss diplomatic approaches to presenting findings, maintaining integrity while being tactful, engaging stakeholders early, and strategies for presenting challenging results constructively.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What methods do you use to ensure data quality in M&E systems?

Expected Answer: Should explain practical approaches to data verification, training data collectors, using appropriate tools, and implementing quality control measures throughout the data collection process.

Q: How do you develop good indicators for a project?

Expected Answer: Should discuss SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound), involving stakeholders, and ensuring indicators actually measure what matters for the project goals.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is the difference between monitoring and evaluation?

Expected Answer: Should explain that monitoring is ongoing tracking of project activities and outputs, while evaluation assesses broader outcomes and impact at specific points in time.

Q: What are the main data collection methods used in M&E?

Expected Answer: Should mention surveys, interviews, focus groups, observation, and document review, with basic understanding of when to use each method.