Measuring Success of Youth Livelihood Interventions: A Practical Guide to Monitoring and Evaluation

The guide addresses the monitoring and evaluation of youth livelihood interventions, with a specific focus on impact evaluation. The term monitoring and evaluation are often used jointly. However, they refer to activities that are quite different. 

Monitoring tracks the implementation and progress of an intervention in order to support program administration. Monitoring: 

• involves the collection of data on specific implementation and results indicators.
• assesses compliance with work plans and budgets.
• uses information for project management and decision making. 
• is ongoing.
• answers the question, “Are we doing the project right?”

Evaluation assess the design, implementation, or results of an intervention in order to support new planning. Evaluation: 

• involves the collection of data on the design, implementation, and results of a project.
• looks at a project’s relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability.
• generates useful information about the impact of the intervention.
• is periodic; usually conducted annually at completion of a project, and includes follow up.
• answers the question, “Are we doing the right project?”