Improving monitoring and evaluation in conservation and development efforts

Abstract

Efforts to alleviate poverty and conserve biodiversity require reliable methods to monitor and assess changes in conservation and development status. Projects intended to achieve biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation objectives often fall short of their goal. Considering the investments made to support these efforts, this is a real concern to society. Evaluating the effectiveness of these efforts is crucial to receive ongoing support and to learn what’s working, what’s not and how it can be improved. This research examines current M&E and impact assessment practices and systems at conservation and development organizations garnered through a survey and interviews and documents opinions, experiences and lessons learned from key informants. Organizations are facing common barriers but share opportunities to improving M&E. Embracing a culture of learning, synthesizing a common vocabulary and implementing organizational change are important steps in improving M&E practice to provide information and data for better M&E and impact assessment.