ATI M&E officers identify the advantages and disadvantages of the different data collection techniques.
BAGUIO CITY, Benguet—The crucial role of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in ensuring the delivery of quality extension services was at the central point of the Capacity Building and Technical Guidance Session on Data Analysis and Interpretation for the M&E and report officers of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).
“M&E is a powerful undertaking. It’s not something to be taken lightly because it plays a huge part in the development of plans and policies,” ATI Policy and Planning Division Chief Milagros Urbano said as she thanked the attendees for their cooperation in the activity.
Apayao State College president Nelia Cauilan served as the activity’s resource person and talked about the relationship between M&E and its challenges, types of evaluation, and data collection methods. She also described the different sampling techniques and ways in analyzing, interpreting, and presenting M&E results.
She underscored the importance of data analysis to be able to assess whether and how a program or project has achieved its objectives. She likewise stressed, “The results of your M&E studies should not be stored in someplace as these are meant to be shared.”
Cauilan also facilitated a workshop on the preparation of a monitoring plan for specific interventions under the Institute’s different thematic programs. The interventions chosen were on the Farmers’ Information and Technology Services Centers, Extension Service Providers, and Learning Sites; training on Climate Smart Farm Business School, and grants.
ATI Cordillera Administrative Region Assistant Center Director Myrna Sta. Maria also spoke to the participants during the opening program on the significance of M&E in the continual improvement of the Institute’s programs and projects.
By the end of the technical guidance session, the participants prepared action plans for monitoring or evaluation activities to be conducted as an application of their learning from the activity.
Some 23 M&E and report officers from the ATI Central Office and network of training centers attended the activity held on April 23-26, 2018. A second technical guidance session is also slated for them for an in-depth learning on data analysis.