ABSTRACT
In indonesia, when one speaks of monitoring, the word pengawasan is often used; literally, it means “control.” That this term is used not just by government agents in their programs and projects, but also by the staff of local nongovernment organizations, international development agencies, and donors, gives some indication as to how monitoring—in theory and in practice—is viewed by many in Indonesia. Activities are “controlled,” and indicators tell planners and implementers to what extent progress is veering from planned targets. During project implementation, monitoring is often seen as an externally driven instrument to help project staff do their jobs. The so-called project beneficiaries hardly benefit from the monitoring activities—nor does anyone expect them to.
