Monitoring and Evaluation is key in keeping track of the progress made with any project or plan. To do this indicators are chosen to monitor and evaluate the performance of the programme or project. The monitoring component usually is made up of continuous checks on the progress made through the collection and analysis of data from the project cycle. It is an essential part of any project cycle and provides constant feedback on implementation and progress made towards the projects goals and objectives. The evaluation component consists of regular assessment of the outputs being achieved by the programme. Evaluation of the project determines whether the outputs are being achieved in a timely manner, whether it is being efficient, effective and having an impact on the overall objective of the project. Monitoring and Evaluation provides programme managers with the required information to be able to make corrections with the project design when and if needed; making it essential to the programme environment.

With respect to the Pacific, there is a lack of resources related to the monitoring and evaluation component of IWRM. However there are key documents that have been produced to guide such developments such as the Regional Action Plan and the Pacific Waste Water Framework for Action. Both these documents were produced to help develop better water resource management in the Pacific and as is a road map for Pacific water needs.

This toolkit will expand on the following themes that we feel are relevant to the topic.

Why & How to Monitor and EvaluateIt is absolutely necessary to monitor and evaluate each phase of the project cycle to ensure the objectives of the programme are being met efficiently and effectively. The documents in this section illustrate why and how monitoring and evaluation should be carried out. It also provides information on how to evaluate whether your project is integrated or not.

1) Monitoring Progress towards and IWRM plan.
2) Water Monitoring Mapping Existing Global Systems & Initiatives
3) Monitoring & Evaluation –GEF Resource kit. Monitoring, evaluation & reporting for sustainable Land Management in LOC &SIDS countries.
4) Monitoring and evaluation of capacity and capacity development
5) Challenges and Chances for Monitoring and Evaluation in IWRM in the Mediterranean. The role of participation, indicators and learning.

Selecting IndicatorsIndicators are quantitative or qualitative statements that can be used to describe existing situations and measure changes or trends over time. Indicators are usually broken down into three separate categories; these are process indicators, stress reduction indicators and environmental indicators. The documents selected here will demonstrate how indicators are chosen for each of these categories and the guidelines for developing indication for the overall project.

1) Technical Committee Policy Brief Number 3 (TEC 3)- Monitoring and Evaluation indicators for IWRM Strategies and plans EU
2) IWRM Indicators (IWCAM- Sasha Beth Gottlieb)
3) Monitoring & Evaluation indicators for GEF/ IWP. Monitoring & Evaluation Working Paper 10 (GEF/ IWP)
4) GEF – IWCAM & IABIN Indicators Mechanism Workshop. GEF Monitoring   & Evaluation & Indicators (IWCAM)
5) Integrated Watershed & Coastal Areas Management in Caribbean’s SIDS.   (IWCAM)
6) Indicators. Implementing Integrated Water Resources Management at River Basin Level.

Setting Up Monitoring & EvaluationOnce the project plan and road map has been designed including its monitoring and evaluation component, the next step is to actually set up this component. Monitoring and Evaluation will defer from country to country depending on the project and country needs. According to these needs indicators will be selected and using these indicators the actual on ground monitoring and evaluation can be set up.

1) Integrated Watershed & Coastal Areas Management in Caribbean’s SIDS.   (IWCAM)

Case StudiesThe following case studies provide an example of how monitoring and evaluation has been carried out with respect to water resources in other countries and regions.

1) Draft National Benchmarking framework: Performance Reporting model For Urban Water Utilities.
2) World Water Week Presentation.
3)Government of Vietnam Case study of M&E capacity building in Vietnam 29 January 2007
4)Coordinated Monitoring of New Zealand's Wetlands, Phase 2, Goal 2:  Maori environmental performance indicators for wetland condition and trends