African Universities’ Research Approaches (AURA) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

The focus of this Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework separates into two parts. The first part looks at standards, frameworks and guidelines for conforming to good M&E practice. This includes a discussion on the rationale for adopting participatory methods in the design and data collection processes throughout the programme. This document also looks at frameworks the African Universities’ Research Approaches (AURA) programme will draw upon in its assessment of improvements to research and teaching practices in the partner institutions. The intention is to draw upon well-established frameworks as a first step, modifying or refining the framework(s) as required over the course of the programme. Finally, this document will discuss the M&E model that will be used to measure the cost-effectiveness, impact and effectiveness of the partnership and product, namely the Facilitated Self-Evaluation (FSE). The latter part of this document covers material that is more practical in nature. The section entitled ‘Data collection for M&E’ (section 4) includes a set of guidelines and templates that will be used to collect evidence throughout the programme. The broad aim of this section is to capture evidence of the AURA project’s ability to achieve its programme targets. Naturally, many of these targets come from the logframe that’s been agreed between the AURA project consortium (i.e. IDS-ITOCA-Loughborough University) and the donor, the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID). The logframe defines the contractual obligations that should be achieved / delivered in this programme, and these obligations are articulated as impacts at: an individual, institutional and sectoral level. As a result, the data collected from monitoring and evaluation processes needs to link to the outcomes and indicators outlined in the AURA logframe. We aim to strike a careful balance in capturing the required information, without overburdening the project team with unnecessary details or processes. For this reason we propose that the data gathering templates used in this document (see the Appendices) are subject to continuous review during the course of the programme, so that these continue to respond to our ever evolving needs.