The Role of Monitoring and Evaluation in the UN 2030 SDGs Agenda

This book examines the UN 2030 SDGs Agenda and its comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach to achieving a more human rights-based and environmentally sustainable development process. More crucially, it provides a much needed and innovative analysis of the role of Monitoring and Evaluation in this Agenda and the challenges that evaluators will face due to the Agenda's inherent weaknesses, coupled with the practice and limited culture of evaluation in general. The authors look to actively help evaluators and other interested parties to develop their capacity to evaluate this ambitious Agenda and develop mitigating strategies for the inherent challenges that will be encountered whilst implementing and evaluating this Agenda.

• sustainable development goals
• monitoring and evalution
• data collection
• indicators
• public policy

“This book has been appropriately written at a time when the world is experiencing one of the most turbulent times in history. As it is well known, the current global crisis has led to devastating economic, social and political consequences. This is overall—a global humanitarian crisis. As of March 05, 2021, 2.57 million people have died due to the COVID-19 disease. With the recent initiation of vaccines roll-out, the world is about to begin its transition from the initial response phase to that of a recovery from the unprecedented effects of this global crisis. Countries are tasked with rebuilding efforts that must incorporate resilience to withstand future shocks. Monitoring and evaluation thus has a critical role to play in the current context. This role is soundly analyzed in the book The Role of Monitoring and Evaluation in the SDGs 2030 Agenda which I am delighted to endorse. Indeed, the authors brilliantly situate Monitoring and Evaluation in the current socio-political context and more specifically in the framework of the SDGs and the COVID-19 eras. Among other things, the book includes an examination of the potential contribution of monitoring and evaluation to inform national policy frameworks for accelerating progress towards the SDGs. This is a tremendous value addition as the linkages between M&E and socio-political contexts, albeit extremely useful for decision making, are rarely found in the literature worldwide. Because of its comprehensiveness and uniqueness, this book is relevant for a wide range of audiences, namely, policy makers, evaluators, statisticians and researchers to mention a few. Indeed, this book will prove useful to those aiming to better understand one or more of the following: How to embed M&E in national policy frameworks especially in turbulent times? How can M&E be effective in informing decision making at the national level? In addition, the book will also prove useful to those interested in deepening their knowledge on the Agenda 2030 and its goals; as well as to those willing to improve their conceptual knowledge on Monitoring and Evaluation. All in all, a must-read book.” (Ada Ocampo (Ms.), President, International Development Evaluation Association (IDEAS))

“The UN’s Sustainable Development Agenda was established to provide a blueprint for ending extreme poverty, reducing inequality and protecting the planet by 2030, and the Sustainable Develop Goals are ambitious targets which all countries across the globe have been challenged to work towards achieving. Developing countries are particularly challenged due to scarce human and financial resources and the myriad social and economic problems they face on a daily basis. The role of monitoring and evaluation in the context of these countries is of particular importance as early feedback on progress or emerging obstacles is critical to ensuring that the most cost-effective mechanisms are employed toward achieving the SDGs. This book builds on the body of knowledge that has been generated and/or curated by the authors over years of practical experience and academic discourse. The topics covered are appropriate, relevant, and well targeted to a diverse audience that includes evaluation professionals with varying levels of proficiency and practical experience in the fields of international development and monitoring and evaluation. Some examples of the book's utility are found in Chapter 5: “Making monitoring and evaluation a part of national and organisational culture” which provides guidance to countries grappling with this very issue; and Chapter 6: “The implication of major shocks and changing global dynamics on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, Data Collection and Monitoring and Evaluation” which provides solid insights for operating within the constraints such as those imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic on data collection and evaluation practice in general.” (Valerie Gordon, President – Caribbean Evaluators International)

“This book is the practitioner’s encyclopaedia! Having monitored and evaluated projects across the globe, discussions on SDGs have become commonplace, with my local colleagues expressing exasperation with the complexity of managing and monitoring the required goals and indicators. This timely book should henceforth be required reading for managers and implementers of SDGs. The authors have succeeded in adeptly dissecting the numerous and sometimes overlapping elements of this UN initiated programme, clarifying the interrelationships of all components and emphasizing the intensity of collaboration required to optimize chances for progress. During this COVID-19 era, dealing with uncertainty should be expected. Communicating to the citizens accurate information, with explanations to help understanding the reasons for suggesting, planning and implementing certain efforts, is essential. As with the pandemic, if as SDG activities roll out it emerges from data that certain aspects which earlier seemed appropriate need to be changed, then there need be flexibility to adapt, adjust, recover from setbacks and continue the effort. Plans and good intentions aside, adequate resources must be availed for truly effective progress. Like the pandemic, diligently working towards and realizing SDG goals is a marathon; thus patience, understanding and steadfast collective effort is most important, as clarified in detail in this book. I was also most glad to read in this book references to holisticism, i.e. the need and benefit of approaching human development in a comprehensive, interdisciplinary fashion. This, indeed, demands gaining insights as to local ways of thinking and doing things, as well as understanding the local bureaucratic culture that would inevitably remain involved. Thus, aligning international perspectives and intentions to national priorities is, in the end, the only way for a chance at success. Each chapter of this book deserves a book on its own and is appropriately organized for focused training. For a comprehensive overview of the issues that could serve to inform and energize planners, organizers and implementers, this book by Drs. Persaud and Dagher meets the challenge!” (Iván G. Somlai, Director – ETHNOBUREAUCRATICA, Associate - Centre for Asia Pacific Initiatives, University of Victoria)

“This book has succeeded in sheding light on the role of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in the UN 2030 SDGs Agenda and analysing systemic and practical implications associated. More than that, the authors offer here an in-depth, realistic, holistic and transformative analysis of the SDG’s universe: purpose and rationale; implementation, M&E challenges; importance of national and international public policy frameworks needed to achieve these goals, etc. Each chapter provides a thorough analysis of the subject and data are interpreted in a concrete and pragmatic manner. The reader will learn about the progress made since 2015 for each of the goals and the road ahead to achieve the goals. The «implementation chain - from the people who developed the policy to the people who are managing it, those who are involved in it at its lowest level of implementation and finally to those who are monitoring and evaluating its implementation and results» (p.47) is clearly depicted. Moreover, internal factors (measurement capacity, policy capacity, collaboration capacity and willingness implementation capacity and political will), external factors as well as global environmental influences are presented along with relevant theories and visuals helping the reader to grasp the complexity associated with the SDGs. The book also offers more transversal reflections not only on the harmful effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic but also the opportunity it represents to rethink and readapt SDGs to local contingencies. Authors also highlighted the indefinite search for a balance between multilateral and coordinated action and country individual responsibility to take ownership in achieving the goals. By positioning M&E as a connecting thread throughout the book, the authors have been particularly agile in painting its transdisciplinary realm from concepts/theories, basic definitions, evaluator’s roles, processes, tools, and associated challenges to the contemporary themes discussed in the field. M&E-related reflections on utility and use of data for decision making; embedment into both organisational and national culture; institutionalisation, professionalization, decolonisation and promotion of culturally rooted evaluations; role of national and international evaluation societies, evaluation dilemmas associated to politics, morals and ethics amongst others have been covered. While some may feel overwhelmed by the richness of information provided, this book is a gold mine for all the game changers - evaluators, managers, decision-makers and students - who are rather curious about, interested and/or experienced in M&E, SDGs and public policy design across sectors and disciplines. They will find both theoretical and practical knowledge to better understand the complexity characterizing the SDGs and public policies in general. Above all, may the readers find inspiration to do their part at their own level so that no one is left behind.” (Lynda Rey Ph. D., Professor in Program Evaluation, Department of Education and Research, National School of Public Administration, Montreal, Quebec, Canada)

• University of the West Indies, St. Michael, Barbados

  Nadini Persaud

• University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

  Ruby Dagher

Nadini Persaud Ph.D. is Lecturer in Evaluation at the University of West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados.

Ruby Dagher Ph.D. is Adjunct Professor of Development and Global Studies at the University of Ottawa, Canada.

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