Monitoring and Evaluation
The value of an information system can be measured by assessing to what extent and how the outputs and/or information products the system generates can be used/applied to policy and program formulation as well as actual field implementation.
Monitoring and evaluation must be undertaken to determine the extent to which the goals are being achieved. It is an important enabling mechanism for the review by the management to assess progress, identify difficulties, assert problem areas and recommend remedial measures. It is concerned with ensuring that inputs through performing the necessary activities will be transformed into the desired outputs. Evaluation is primarily concerned with measuring the impact of inputs vis-à-vis FIVIMS goal and objectives.
The components (data source, data banking and management, data utilization) should have each work (and financial) plan by which the activities are measured against output- impact-based performance indicator system. The plans should reflect the targets and milestone accomplishments from data collection to dissemination. Advance Release Calendars (ARC) may be necessary to track statistical activities and data reporting.
A performance indicator system must be developed for each component/activity/project to measure the progress of FIVIMS implementation. The indicators must be simple, feasible, concrete, and measurable and will provide the quantitative and qualitative detail to a set of objectives.
The system must be evaluated periodically, to ensure that the objectives are met.
