Handbook on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluating for Development Results

This ‘Handbook on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluating for Development Results’
is an updated edition of the 2002 edition of ‘Handbook on Monitoring and Evaluating
for Results’. It seeks to address new directions in planning,monitoring and evaluation
in the context of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) corporate
strategic plan, the requirements of the UNDP evaluation policy approved by the
Executive Board in 2006 and the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG)
‘Standards for Evaluation in the UN System’. The updated Handbook also incorporates
information recommended by key users of the Handbook during various
workshops held by UNDP units.

Chapter 1 of the Handbook provides an overview of the integrated nature of planning,
monitoring and evaluation, and describes the critical role they play in managing for
development results. Underlying the entire Handbook is the principle that planning,
monitoring and evaluation must at all times be considered in relation to, and build
upon, one another. Chapter 2 provides an overview of the conceptual foundations of
planning and specific guidance on planning techniques and the preparation of results
frameworks that guide monitoring and evaluation.Chapter 3 provides guidance on how
to plan for monitoring and evaluation before implementing a plan. Chapter 4 focuses
on issues related to monitoring, reporting and review. Chapters 5 through 7 provide an
overview of the UNDP evaluation function and the policy framework, introduce key
elements of evaluation design and tools and describe practical steps in managing the
evaluation process. Chapter 8 presents practical steps and examples in using knowledge
from monitoring and evaluation in managing for development results.