ABSTRACT
Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of a watershed development (WSD) Project is seen here as an exercise that has two interlinked components. Monitoring relates to watching the progress of the implementation against set objectives, which includes collection of some observations to build data series and offers opportunities to carry out mid-course correction. It is generally an in-house exercise. Evaluation, on the other hand, is an external study. It covers performance assessment in terms of outputs and consequent outcome or effect. It also provides a measure of durable effects or overall impact of the project and the prospect of its becoming sustainable. The information that the exercise provides should stand scrutiny by a third party and, therefore, must have some quantified results and outcome. This helps a WSD project to compete with other projects in attracting investment. An M&E study has to assess four broad or component areas, i.e. biophysical status, primary production systems, socioeconomics and institutional aspects, and nine important sub-areas. Indicators are needed for all these sub-areas. These indicators should be unique, quantifiable, and directive and should have point source. They can be individual or composite.
28 The methodology for an M&E study has four steps: (1) sampling of micro watersheds, villages, households or respondents, sites, etc.; (2) data collection and tabulation; (3) analysis; and (4) drawing of inferences. Primary data is collected through interactive surveys of sampled households with a questionnaire, village profile by a participatory rural appraisal and participatory village transect survey, direct measurements with conventional methods, and application of remote sensing data and images as well as GIS. Secondary data are gathered from secondary sources. There are three sub-studies of an evaluation study: a baseline survey that provides the pre-project scenario; a mid-term evaluation that gives an intermediary scenario and helps identify areas for making mid-term corrections; and a final evaluation study that reveals durable effects and is thus referred to as impact analysis. Data analysis and interpretation are carried out for sub-areas as well as whole watersheds. Some illustrations are given in this chapter, which relate to climate, land use, soils, soil and water conservation, improved ground water and surface water, growth and development of community-based organizations and institutions, social and economic upliftment, environmental upgradation, and sustainability of the project implementation. The questionnaires and schedules are diverse, voluminous, and project-specific. Assessment of sustainability is a separate concluding exercise. The principles and methodology are illustrated with a case study.
