What is participatory monitoring and evaluation and why do it?
Participatory monitoring (and evaluation) goes beyond simply informing stakeholders of monitoring results and gives them an active role in setting targets and selecting indicators, and involves them in the process of gathering and analysing monitoring data. For some types of impacts, the consequences are so significant that the Social Way requires that a participatory approach is taken to monitoring and evaluating impact controls, for example potential impacts to Indigenous People. Further details are available in the relevant toolkit sections.
Table 1.6 explains the key characteristics of a participatory-monitoring approach compared to conventional monitoring and evaluation. The key steps in a participatory monitoring and evaluation process are shown in Figure 1.2.
Table 1.6 Conventional v participatory monitoring and evaluation
Figure 1.2 Participatory monitoring and evaluation process
Involvement of affected stakeholders in participatory monitoring can reduce tensions and strengthen relationships through building ownership and accountability on issues of joint importance1. By involving stakeholders in the monitoring and evaluation process you are building their capacity to understand what works and what doesn’t, which is likely to help them in future decision making. At the same time, local stakeholders may have valuable insights regarding what factors should be monitored owing to their knowledge of the local environment and communities. Information about how and why a change happened and how important that change is to those affected is also more likely to emerge through participatory monitoring. Stakeholders are also more likely to be committed to activities that they have helped develop.
Sites may wish to use their Community Engagement Forum (see Section 3A) as an open and transparent approach to defining indicators, collecting data and holding subsequent discussions to increase trust levels between the company and affected stakeholders.
Key principles and considerations
Sites should consider applying the following key principles when developing a participatory monitoring approach2 3 4-:
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1 International Finance Corporation (IFC) and International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) (2017) Shared Water, Shared Responsibility, Shared Approach: Water in the Mining Sector. Available at: https://www.commdev.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/P_ICMM-IFC-Water-and-Mining-FINAL.pdf [Accessed 12 March 2019]
2 International Finance Corporation (IFC) (2010) International Lessons of Experience and Best Practice in Participatory Monitoring in Extractive Industry Projects: Guidance Note on Designing Participatory Monitoring Programs. Available at: https://www.commdev.org/international-lessons-of-experience-and-best-practice-in-participatory-monitoring-in-extractive-industry-projects-guidance-note-on-designing-participatory-monitoring-programs/ [Accessed 12 March 2019]
3 Office of the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman (CAO) (2008) Participatory Water Monitoring A Guide for Preventing and Managing Conflict. Available at: http://www.cao-ombudsman.org/howwework/advisor/documents/watermoneng.pdf [Accessed 12 March 2019]
4 International Finance Corporation (IFC) (2007) A Good Practice Handbook for Companies Doing Business in Emerging Markets. Available at: https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/938f1a0048855805beacfe6a6515bb18/IFC_StakeholderEngagement.pdf?MOD=AJPERES [Accessed 12 March 2019]
5 International Finance Corporation (IFC) and International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) (2017) Shared Water, Shared Responsibility, Shared Approach: Water in the Mining Sector. Available at: https://www.commdev.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/P_ICMM-IFC-Water-and-Mining-FINAL.pdf [Accessed 12 March 2019]