Monitoring and evaluation of government programs in India and Canada

Abstract

An effective monitoring of program implementation and its evaluation to assess if the intended outcomes are obtained are two key tools to ensure efficient use of the public monies spent on innumerable and ever-expanding programs. In view of the large-scale spending that happens on the programs, there is every need to monitor the implementation through the life cycle of the programs and have either end evaluation or concurrent evaluation of the programs in order to understand if the desired end results are achieved. The paper discusses the monitoring and evaluation practices in India and Canada and identifies the good practices that can be emulated in strengthening the monitoring systems. It is important to recognize based on country experiences that putting the right kind of monitoring and evaluation framework is a long-drawn process involving trial and error. Indian monitoring systems which were put in place at the very beginning of the planning process are yet to stabilize, and there are new frameworks tried out in between. The evaluation policy once framed also to be revisited with prescribed periodicity or as and when the need arises to reflect or accommodate the changing situations for it to meaningfully contribute to an understanding of program performance rather than attempting altogether new frameworks. The Canadian monitoring and evaluation too has had a very long history; however, commitment and dedication at both senior and operational levels have played an important role to ensure sustainability through the long period of development and implementation of M&E.