Fullfilling the Expectations? The experiences with the M&E-part of Outcome Mapping in an Education for Sustainability Project in Zimbabwe

This research has analysed monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities based on the Outcome Mapping (OM) methodology within the St2eep project, an education for sustainability project in Zimbabwe. The vast majority of development programmes in the public sector are being guided by conventional M&E-approaches based on the logframe. Although research is indicating significant problems with the implementation of these approaches, there are only few documented examples of experiences with alternative M&E frameworks. The case of St2eep allowed us to compare three years of experiences with M&E based on the logframe, with two years of M&E based on OM. We evaluate how the project team and VVOB have perceived the performance of OM with regards to the two main aims of M&E activities: accountability and learning. This is complemented with an analysis of monitoring documentation. The project team refers to the collaborative nature of M&E in St2eep, the principles of self-assessment and peer-assessment, combined with public recognition for project successes, as the key factors supporting learning and accountability through M&E in St2eep. Double-loop learning would require improved data collection and more skills to monitor behaviour changes in the project to push critical reflection at a higher level.status: publishe