About Course

Introduction

The The M.A. in monitoring and evaluation has been developed to respond to the need for expert human resource for tracking the performance of diverse programmes and projects with the view to enhancing quality performance. It is also designed to ensure rapid and sustainable development of monitoring and evaluation education and discipline.

Definition and Nature of the Programme

This is a skills based course aimed at equipping the student with the appropriate capacity to pursue a career in monitoring and evaluation. It is designed to present the requisite information that will enhance the students’ knowledge and skills needed to effectively impact on project management processes. The programme gives credence to the promotion of intellectual and scholarly discourse in matters pertaining to monitoring and evaluation.

Students will acquire skills in monitoring and evaluation, management and administration, programme design, planning and implementation, research and analytical skills, leadership dynamics, dynamics of change, participatory monitoring and evaluation approaches, communication of results, human rights, and Vision 2030, with the responsibility to track progress made in the implementation of government policies, programmes and projects through the National Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Systems (NIMES). Part of the NIMES responsibility is to challenge both the public and the private institutions to respond to the formulated policies while increasing the culture and practice of monitoring and evaluation in the country. However, there is limited capacity in human resource and knowledge required for effective implementation of the NIMES mandate. Through the monitoring and evaluation Programme, Daystar University, as an academic institution of higher learning, is responding to these capacity needs.

This programme is unique and timely. It is the only Master of Arts in monitoring and evaluation in the Eastern Africa region which cuts across disciplines. Its generic form makes it a versatile programme catering for diverse disciplines. This is a deliberate move informed by the fact that tracking of performance and the application of monitoring and evaluation approaches to enhance performance is a need spread across disciplines. This notwithstanding, the programme also recognizes the special interests and needs which may arise from the time to time, hence through MME 608 has provided room for special topics.

Rationale

Kenya is a signatory to the Millennium Development Goals. In order to achieve these goals it has launched vision 2030. This is aimed at transforming Kenya into a medium income economy. To realize this the government, has charged the Ministry of Planning and Development and Vision 2030, with the responsibility to track progress made in the implementation of government policies, programmes and projects through the National Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Systems (NIMES). Part of the NIMES responsibility is to challenge both the public and the private institutions to respond to the formulated policies while increasing the culture and practice of monitoring and evaluation in the country. However, there is limited capacity in human resource and knowledge required for effective implementation of the NIMES mandate. Through the monitoring and evaluation Programme, Daystar University, as an academic institution of higher learning, is responding to these capacity needs.

This programme is unique and timely. It is the only Master of Arts in monitoring and evaluation in the Eastern Africa region which cuts across disciplines. Its generic form makes it a versatile programme catering for diverse disciplines. This is a deliberate move informed by the fact that tracking of performance and the application of monitoring and evaluation approaches to enhance performance is a need spread across disciplines. This notwithstanding, the programme also recognizes the special interests and needs which may arise from the time to time, hence through MME 608 has provided room for special topics.