Youth Program Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Course

Youth programmes without genuine monitoring and evaluation cannot demonstrate impact to funders, cannot identify what is working, and cannot improve systematically over time. This course builds practical planning, monitoring and evaluation skills specifically for youth programme contexts, from theory of change through to using evidence for genuine improvement.

Common challenges this course addresses:

• You measure programme activity but cannot demonstrate genuine outcomes to funders
• You lack a clear theory of change connecting your activities to intended youth outcomes
• Your monitoring data is collected but rarely actually used to improve programme delivery
• You struggle to design indicators that are both meaningful and practical to collect
• You are not confident writing evaluation reports that satisfy funder requirements

This course builds practical monitoring and evaluation skills that demonstrate impact and genuinely improve your programme.

What You Will Leave With

Practical tools applicable immediately.

Output vs Outcome: The Distinction Most Reports Get Wrong

Why counting activity isn't the same as measuring change

Why this module matters: A clear theory of change is the foundation for meaningful monitoring and evaluation, connecting what you do to what you hope to achieve.

• Building a theory of change that connects activities to outcomes logically
• Distinguishing outputs, outcomes and impact clearly
• Identifying assumptions that need to be tested through evaluation

Why this module matters: Indicators that are theoretically meaningful but impractical to collect reliably undermine monitoring systems from the start.

• Designing indicators that are both meaningful and realistically collectible
• Selecting data collection methods appropriate to your resources
• Building data collection into programme delivery without excessive burden

Why this module matters: Monitoring data creates value only when it is actually analysed and used to improve programme delivery, not simply archived.

• Analysing monitoring data to identify genuine programme strengths and gaps
• Using evidence to make real-time programme adjustments
• Building a learning culture that treats data as improvement, not just compliance

Why this module matters: Rigorous evaluation and clear reporting demonstrate genuine impact to funders and stakeholders while informing future programme design.

• Designing evaluations appropriate to programme scale and resources
• Writing evaluation reports that satisfy funder requirements and inform practice
• Personal monitoring and evaluation plan for your specific programme

Does the course require prior monitoring and evaluation experience?

No. The course builds monitoring and evaluation skills from foundational concepts through to practical application, suitable for those new to the discipline as well as those refining existing skills.

Is this course relevant for small programmes with limited monitoring budgets?

Yes. Practical, low-cost data collection and analysis methods are emphasised throughout, recognising that many youth programmes operate with limited dedicated monitoring resources.

Ready to Build Monitoring and Evaluation That Genuinely Improves Your Programme?

Move beyond compliance-driven data collection to evidence that demonstrates impact and drives improvement.