The ability to monitor and evaluate implemented projects is particularly crucial for employees in the public sector, as their activities affect the lives of those in their surrounding communities. Civil servants need to have a relationship of trust with the community they serve. In community development, good intentions are not enough; accountability is necessary to build trust. If activities and projects are not implemented and managed efficiently, communities will lose confidence in public services.

The first block of UKZN Extended Learning’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Skills Programme commenced on 24 May. This programme aims to equip delegates with the necessary skills to strengthen their capacity and develop a pool of professionals with substantial knowledge and skills in assessing activities and projects.

By the end of the six-month programme, delegates will be able to provide consolidated sources of information and confidently explain best practice through Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems that showcase progress. They will learn from one another’s experiences throughout the programme, building on their expertise and knowledge. The course content is designed to strengthen delegates’ ability to manage appropriate integrated M&E systems within available resource constraints to achieve desired strategic outcomes in specific fields in organisations. Gaining M&E knowledge enables an assessment of the crucial link between implementers, beneficiaries on the ground and decision-makers. Overall, this programme is relevant in addressing areas of inexperience, highlighting challenges, and imparting new skills for delegates to use and recommend for their systems on return to work.

This programme is aimed at civil servants, and private sector or civil society organisations interested in developing an understanding of current issues in M&E, and conceptual skills to manage M&E processes.

For more information, please click here.

Or contact: Percy Sishi on T: +27 31 260 1234 or E: SishiS@ukzn.ac.za

Words: Nkosingiphile Ntshangase

Photograph: Supplied