What are determinants of effective monitoring and evaluation systems in non-governmental organizations within Arumeru District

Monitoring and Evaluation is a tool used to manage the implementation of projects and programs. It helps managers to keep projects and programs in line with their objectives and intended impacts, and facilitates the information provided by M&E in the decision-making process in relation to the project. All types of projects require monitoring and evaluation, regardless of their size, and this leads to their adaptation or replacements. The aim of the study was to look at the determinants influencing the effectiveness of M&E systems in NGO’s within Arumeru District, Tanzania. The study intended to find out how selection of tools and techniques, the role of management, M&E training and technical expertise of staff, Stakeholders involvements and Use of database contribute to the effectiveness of the M&E system. The study targeted fifty (50) respondents who included project managers, M&E officers, accountants, directors and other staff working for organizations typically in collaboration with M&E department. The data collection instrument used was a questionnaire whereby researcher sent 50 and among them 48 was completed and collected. The findings indicated that, the selected variables influenced the performance of M&E system in NGOs in Arumeru District. The study documented that respondents had sufficient education with relevant experience in working with NGOs especially in Monitoring and Evaluation System it also established that stuff had different training which was as well relevant to the M&E, data wear also collected from different sources to facilitate project monitoring and evaluation. Managements sleeted tools and techniques in accordance to the organizations objectives, management played their roles in monitoring andevaluations accordingly, Stakeholders were involved in first term and end term evaluations and data base was effectively used in M&E systems The study recommends that NACONGO should prepare M&E standards and qualifications for M&E officers as well as organize subsequent training manuals for M&E staff and organize training workshops and seminars. It is important to have a clear distinction and definition of the purpose and scope establishing what the system is and what is it for. Donors and NGOs should invest time and resources in identifying and collecting data and information that allows a rigorous assessment of how well an NGO is or is not performing and in the long term what impact it is achieving. The budget should be spared for information technology so as to get good databases which reflect the objectives of organizations. It also recommends that there is need to advance Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) were possible to progress to Monitoring, Evaluation & Collaboration (ME&C)