Multi-national, Sub-Saharan Africa  Show on interactive map

Mar 2011 to Jun 2012

ActionAid International

ActionAid International

ActionAid has developed a new strategy and is restructuring to be able to deliver the strategy. As part of the restructuring is the development of a new M&E system to monitor and evaluate the new strategy. It is looking for new ways to plan, monitor and evaluate in the complex environment in which it works and are trying different mechanisms such as participatory baselines and rights registers, and cost effectiveness. OM has been proposed as a suitable PME method for complex environments such as those faced by ActionAid. ActionAid did not want to take the risk of applying OM wholesale across the organisation so that is why the approach is being piloted in a number of countries. At the end of this pilot a decision will be made on whether to apply OM wholesale, apply some aspects of OM or not to apply OM. If OM is found to be valuable to the organisation it would be used globally and not only in Africa.

ActionAid has developed a new strategy and is restructuring to be able to deliver the strategy. As part of the restructuring is the development of a new M&E system to monitor and evaluate the new strategy. It is looking for new ways to plan, monitor and evaluate in the complex environment in which it works and are trying different mechanisms such as participatory baselines and rights registers, and cost effectiveness. OM has been proposed as a suitable PME method for complex environments such as those faced by ActionAid. ActionAid did not want to take the risk of applying OM wholesale across the organisation so that is why the approach is being piloted in a number of countries. At the end of this pilot a decision will be made on whether to apply OM wholesale, apply some aspects of OM or not to apply OM. If OM is found to be valuable to the organisation it would be used globally and not only in Africa.

Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

Problems: OM terminology can cause confusion. The term 'boundary partner' can get confused with other social actors who are termed partners. With regular explanation the terms become more familiar and useful.

Benefits: jor benefits: It served as a reality check. The whole exercise made us rethink our desired outcomes. Outlining outcome challenges and then outcome harvesting tells you what your real outcomes are. It makes you much more accountable to your stakeholders.

It also helps to know how much money goes into achieving what outcome in what thematic area. Is this reasonable in comparison to the money that has been used.