Complexity-Aware Monitoring and Evaluation
Background: Addressing today’s sustainability challenges requires adopting a systemic approach where social and ecological systems are treated as integrated social-ecological systems. Such systems are complex, and the international development sector increasingly recognises the need to account for...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Evaluation Center at Western Michigan University
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation |
| Online Access: | https://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/679 |
| _version_ | 1797812703364907008 |
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| author | Tilman Hertz Eva Brattander Loretta Rose |
| author_facet | Tilman Hertz Eva Brattander Loretta Rose |
| author_sort | Tilman Hertz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Background: Addressing today’s sustainability challenges requires adopting a systemic approach where social and ecological systems are treated as integrated social-ecological systems. Such systems are complex, and the international development sector increasingly recognises the need to account for the complexity of the systems that they seek to transform.
Purpose: This paper sketches out the elements of a complexity-aware monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system for international development programmes in the area of sustainable development.
Setting: Not applicable.
Data Collection and Analysis: The authors draw on existing literature on complexity and evaluation and on their own experience from working in the field of M&E.
Findings: An M&E system should not be seen simply as a tool to track compliance against a pre-determined theory of change. Instead, it is most useful as a real-time approach, constantly defining and re-defining narratives for change that help push systems along trajectories of interest. Dealing with complexity involves embracing uncertainty; and this challenges established notions of accountability—something which funders and implementers must begin to redefine together.
Keywords: monitoring; evaluation; complexity; social-ecological systems; international development programmes; narratives for change; theory of change
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:41:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0ba7ff20299b4168a220c60c412daac5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1556-8180 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:41:19Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | The Evaluation Center at Western Michigan University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ba7ff20299b4168a220c60c412daac52023-06-03T06:57:32ZengThe Evaluation Center at Western Michigan UniversityJournal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation1556-81802021-06-01174110.56645/jmde.v17i41.679Complexity-Aware Monitoring and EvaluationTilman Hertz0Eva Brattander1Loretta Rose2Stockholm Resilience Center, Stockholm University, SwedenStockholm Resilience Center, Stockholm University, SwedenIndependent Consultant Background: Addressing today’s sustainability challenges requires adopting a systemic approach where social and ecological systems are treated as integrated social-ecological systems. Such systems are complex, and the international development sector increasingly recognises the need to account for the complexity of the systems that they seek to transform. Purpose: This paper sketches out the elements of a complexity-aware monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system for international development programmes in the area of sustainable development. Setting: Not applicable. Data Collection and Analysis: The authors draw on existing literature on complexity and evaluation and on their own experience from working in the field of M&E. Findings: An M&E system should not be seen simply as a tool to track compliance against a pre-determined theory of change. Instead, it is most useful as a real-time approach, constantly defining and re-defining narratives for change that help push systems along trajectories of interest. Dealing with complexity involves embracing uncertainty; and this challenges established notions of accountability—something which funders and implementers must begin to redefine together. Keywords: monitoring; evaluation; complexity; social-ecological systems; international development programmes; narratives for change; theory of change https://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/679 |
| spellingShingle | Tilman Hertz Eva Brattander Loretta Rose Complexity-Aware Monitoring and Evaluation Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation |
| title | Complexity-Aware Monitoring and Evaluation |
| title_full | Complexity-Aware Monitoring and Evaluation |
| title_fullStr | Complexity-Aware Monitoring and Evaluation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Complexity-Aware Monitoring and Evaluation |
| title_short | Complexity-Aware Monitoring and Evaluation |
| title_sort | complexity aware monitoring and evaluation |
| url | https://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/679 |
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