A Survey of Monitoring and Evaluation Systems for Government Projects in Tanzania: A Case of Health Projects

Abstract

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system are used across the world by organizations or governments to track progress, measure and evaluate outcomes of projects. Organizations can improve their performance, effectiveness and achieving results in project success by strengthening their monitoring and evaluation systems. Moreover, various studies reveal the need for information and communication technology systems in monitoring and evaluation activities because most of the government organizations do not employ computerized monitoring and evaluation systems and those having these systems lack a systematic early informing mechanism of the projects' progress. Currently, the Ministry of Health in Tanzania monitors and evaluates its projects manually, due to this, they face the risks and challenges during the implementation of projects because of a lack of having timely adoption of remedial action. Monitoring and evaluation staffs spent a lot of time in manual work, manual compilation of data, due to data being in separate systems, delay in submission of data, data is lost between primary registries to monthly summaries, from monthly to quarterly summaries, system does not contain all details about projects/program as well as budget information, no early alert information about the status of the project, poor information sharing among stakeholder. In this study, we collect representative data from three monitoring and evaluation staff, four ICT staff and five project members by using interviews, focus group discussion and document review. The result showed that the electronic monitoring and evaluation system will solve a presented challenge. Development of a web-based monitoring and evaluation system for the ministry of health projects will provides timely, accurate information, that for tracking the implementation progress of projects improved monitoring and evaluation.