Public Policy Monitoring and Evaluation Training Course

This course equips participants with the skills to monitor and evaluate public policies and programmes. It focuses on policy cycle analysis, indicators, evaluation designs, evidence use, and reporting that improves policy performance and accountability.

Target Groups

• Policy analysts and planners
• Monitoring and evaluation officers in government
• Public sector managers
• Parliamentary and oversight staff
• Development partner staff
• Researchers and civil society practitioners
• Managers and supervisors seeking to strengthen organizational practice in this field
• Consultants and professionals supporting related organizations

Course Objectives

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

• Explain the policy cycle and the role of monitoring and evaluation
• Develop policy theories of change and results frameworks
• Select indicators for policy performance
• Design national and sector monitoring systems
• Apply evaluation approaches to public policies
• Assess relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability
• Use quantitative and qualitative evidence
• Evaluate equity and inclusion in policies
• Communicate findings to decision-makers
• Promote evidence use and accountability in government

Course Modules

Module 1: Policy Cycle and the Role of M&E

• Stages of the policy cycle
• Types of public policy
• Purpose of M&E in government
• Institutional arrangements
• Evidence-informed policy

Module 2: Policy Logic and Results Frameworks

• Policy problem analysis
• Theory of change
• Results frameworks
• Aligning policy with plans
• Assumptions

Module 3: Indicators for Policy Performance

• Indicator selection
• Sector and national indicators
• Baselines and targets
• Data sources
• Indicator quality

Module 4: Building Government M&E Systems

• National M&E policies
• Roles and coordination
• Data systems
• Reporting cycles
• Capacity development

Module 5: Policy and Programme Evaluation Approaches

• Evaluation criteria
• Formative and summative evaluation
• Impact evaluation overview
• Rapid and participatory evaluation
• Evaluation planning

Module 6: Evidence Collection and Analysis

• Administrative data
• Surveys and case studies
• Qualitative methods
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Synthesizing evidence

Module 7: Equity, Gender, and Inclusion in Policy Evaluation

• Equity lenses
• Disaggregated analysis
• Gender-responsive evaluation
• Vulnerable groups
• Rights-based approaches

Module 8: Communicating Evidence to Decision-Makers

• Policy briefs
• Dashboards
• Stakeholder engagement
• Public reporting
• Parliamentary use

Module 9: Evidence Use and Accountability

• Management responses
• Tracking recommendations
• Budget and policy linkages
• Transparency
• Learning culture

Module 10: Practical Exercises and Capstone Project

• Designing a monitoring framework for a policy
• Developing indicators
• Planning a policy evaluation
• Analyzing sample evidence
• Presenting recommendations in a policy brief