Conflict-sensitive monitoring and evaluation

This guide is Module 3 from Chapter 3 of Saferworld's resource pack Conflict-sensitive approaches to development, humanitarian assistance and peacebuilding. The guide sets out to support the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems that take into account the complex relationship between context and project in conflict-sensitive areas. It outlines the key steps involved in undertaking conflict-sensitive M & E and the many issues and challenges that evaluators may face in this context and activity specific environment. The guide includes some sample indicators that that are designed to show what context specific indicators may look like based on a fictional setting.

Excerpt

"Conflict-sensitive evaluation introduces a detailed understanding of actors, profile, causes and dynamics into traditional evaluation activities and processes. Conflict-sensitive evaluations are used to understand the overall impact a given intervention has had on its context, and the context on the intervention. These evaluations can then be used to adjust subsequent phases of an ongoing initiative, and / or provide lessons for future initiatives.

In other words, while traditional monitoring and evaluation focus primarily on assessing the intended and actual outputs of a given project, conflict-sensitive monitoring and evaluation also requires:

  • an understanding of the context as it changes over time
  • measuring of the interaction between the project and the context." (Saferworld, 2004)

Contents

  • Conflict-sensitive monitoring and evaluation
  • Key steps in conflict-sensitive monitoring and evaluation
  • Key issues in conflict-sensitive monitoring and evaluation
  • Annex 1: Sample indicators – links between context changes and project, and project changes and context

Sources

Safer World. (2004). Conflict-sensitive monitoring and evaluation. In Conflict-sensitive approaches to development, humanitarian assistance and peace building: tools for peace and conflict impact assessment. Retrieved from http://www.saferworld.org.uk/downloads/pubdocs/chapter_3_module_3_confli...