Assessment of M & E IT Systems in Community-based Organisations

Abstract

The study was to evaluate the design of M&E IT systems used in Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and to contribute to data management and program improvement. This assessment was to determine how M&E IT systems comply with established guidelines, identify gaps and developments in the CBO M&E IT system, and understand how to improve program delivery using the CBO M&E IT system module. The thesis used descriptive research design to gather data about various subjects. "Descriptive analysis was employed to get proofreading the current status of a phenomenon and to describe what exists concerning conditions in a very situation" (Nath, 2007; Shamoo and Resnik, 2005). The evaluation used the FHI 360 Participatory Assessment Tool, which integrates the twelve components of the IT M&E technology into eight domain, program-level applications" (FHI,360). The target population was 1706, and 3-5 Community-based institutions that are operating in remote areas. One hundred and seventy respondents were sampled to participate in the evaluation. Data were collected through open and closed interviews, deliberations and document review both online and offline documents. The data were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed to give results. The study identified low data quality, achieve donor satisfaction, ensure data security and control, achieve operational efficiency as the drivers for robust M&E IT systems at community-based organisations. Similarly, they are confronted with a lack of plans, guidelines & operational documents, inadequate data verification checks, poorly developed data quality systems and training of meal staff and volunteers. Besides, the study proposed that for the community-based institutions should invest in professional training of employees, allocated adequate funds for developing or build effective M&E IT systems and use of standard tools for data collection and reporting. Moreover, they need to be made aware increase management ownership and support and allocation funds and resources to organizations is very crucial in all M&E aspects.