Organisational capacity

Organisational capacities refer to organisations' abilities and resources to effectively carry out M&E functions.

In addition to the skills and knowledge of individuals, this encompasses the processes and systems in place for M&E activities, the institutional structures that support M&E, and the tools and technologies used for data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Strengthening organisational capacities for M&E involves creating an environment where M&E is not just an add-on or afterthought but is embedded within governmental operations. At the heart of this capacity strengthening is the development of a robust infrastructure for M&E that spans human resources, technological tools, and institutional policies. Organisations are equipped with skilled personnel trained in M&E methodologies, supported by advanced data systems that ensure the collection and management of high-quality data.

This infrastructure is underpinned by policies and strategic frameworks that guide M&E practices, ensuring they are consistent with national priorities and international good practices. Quality assurance mechanisms are established to validate the integrity of M&E processes and their findings, fostering trust in the data produced. This also entails fostering a culture that values evidence and learning and where insights from M&E activities are effectively communicated and inform strategic planning, budgeting, policy-making and implementation.

In this section

  • Organisational policies, strategies, and plans are high-level documents, usually endorsed at a senior governance level, which set the parameters for M&E within an organisation.

  • Guidance documents help to standardise and streamline processes within and across organisations.

  • Resources and capacity in a national M&E system refer to the combination of human, financial, and technological assets a country has available to manage M&E systems.

  • Monitoring and evaluation systems depend on the availability of data.

  • Processes for ensuring M&E quality include established procedures and standards that are put in place to ensure that monitoring and evaluation activities are carried out effectively and yield reliable, credible results.

  • Communication and knowledge management includes strategies and practices to capture, store, and share the knowledge and insights gained from M&E activities.

  • Supporting the use of M&E in a national M&E system means actively facilitating and encouraging the application of monitoring and evaluation findings to inform policy decisions, improve programs, and guide strategic planning.

This content section is currently under development and has been released in beta mode. We welcome any feedback or suggestions for additional resources and examples - please get in touch via the contact form!

'Organisational capacity' is referenced in: