A web-based monitoring and evalution system for government projects in Tanzania: a case of health projects

Abstract

Monitoring and evaluation system is used across the world by organizations or governments to measure, track progress and evaluate outcomes of programs. Organizations can improve their performance, effectiveness and achieving results in programs 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. Despite the advantage of the tools, most organization does not employ computerized monitoring and evaluation systems due to cost of the systems, limited expertise and those having these systems lack a systematic early alert mechanism of the programs progress. Currently, the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children of Tanzania monitors and evaluates its programs manually, due to this; they face the risks and challenges of delayed projects completeness. Monitoring and evaluation staff spent a lot of time in manual work, delay in submission of data, data is lost between primary registries to monthly summaries, from monthly to quarterly summaries, lack of having project details, project status, timely adoption and remedial action. In this study, data were collected by using document reviews, focus group discussions and interviews to generate system requirements. A web-based monitoring and evaluation system for the ministry of health projects were developed to solve the monitoring and evaluation challenges, to provide timely, simplify works, generate quality data effective planning and successful project implementation. Lastly, the developed system was tested and evaluated against the user’s requirements and was positively accepted to be deployed at the ministry of health.