Page 87 - AERC Strategic Plan 2 July2020

THE AERC 2020–2025 STRATEGIC PLAN

Activity-level evaluation is the application of the criteria of relevance, efficiency,
effectiveness, sustainability, and impact to discrete activities or clusters of activities.

Implementing the MEF

Principles underpinning monitoring and evaluation
within the AERC

The design and implementation of the MEF for the AERC should be guided by the following
six principles:

» The MEF should focus on producing relevant, useful, accessible, and timely
information that meets the needs of intended users (i.e. staff, Board, funders
and partners). Success should be seen in terms of the AERC’s ability to provide
the information outlined in the MEF at the appropriate times, and in accessible
formats that maximize the uptake and use of such information.
» The MEF must be sufficiently flexible to be able to accommodate changes
in strategy, direction, and the emerging needs for performance-related
information, such as requirements of funders and other partners. The MEF
should not be excessively rigid, should have built-in checkpoints to enable it
to adapt over time, and should be reviewed regularly both within the team
responsible for MEF and with AERC management and governance.

» The MEF design and implementation should be realistic, in the sense that it
acknowledges (a) the potentially limited capacity and incentives of AERC staff,
partners, and external stakeholders to engage with performance monitoring,
evaluation, and/or the results of these activities; and (b) that the AERC’s
influence over external stakeholders may be limited.

» The MEF should be considered a key element of a larger culture of performance
management and learning within the AERC. The implementation and usefulness
of the MEF for management decision-making is heavily dependent on the larger
organizational culture, which should be actively cultivated (especially by AERC
management) to focus on performance, learning, and continuous improvement.

» Where feasible, the AERC will work directly with partner systems of monitoring
and evaluation to strengthen these systems and increase sustainability. This
includes donor systems.
» The MEF for the AERC should ensure ethical ME practice. The implementation
of the MEF should respect the rights, privacy, dignity, and entitlements of all
stakeholders and of those affected by and contributing to the MEF.

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