Stakeholder Perspectives on Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation in Educational Projects in Upper West Region, Ghana

Abstract

The paper set out to outline the differences between conventional M&E and PM&E from the perspectives of stakeholders and assess their involvement as well as the benefits associated with PM&E in two districts: Nadowli-Kaleo and Daffiama-Bussie-Issa in the Upper West Region, Ghana. The paper employed multi-stage, simple random and purposive sampling methods in identifying respondents for interviews. Key informant interviews were used to collect data. Thematic and qualitative content analysis of participants’ voices were used in analysing the data. Findings reveal that PM&E gives primary stakeholders power and control over project execution and taking actions on monitoring results. However, it emerged that the youth and women were not fully involved in the process, some beneficiaries have limited capacity and understanding of their roles in the PM&E process and their involvement is limited to ad hoc approaches due to resource constraints. The study concludes that despite its implementation challenges, PM&E has an edge over orthodox M&E in enhancing effective implementation of educational projects. The paper recommends education of and capacity building for beneficiaries on their roles in the PM&E process to enable them more actively and meaningfully participate in it. Policy decision-makers should make conscious efforts to timely free more resources to the monitoring teams to facilitate their work. The monitoring team should also make frantic efforts to engage the youth and women to achieve the right level of participation in the process.