6. Critical reflection

The reason for this regular monitoring and evaluation is not to produce reports – for donors or for management – but to re-examine the strategy and programmes from time to time. During this reflection, the following questions can help you along (Intrac, 2017):

• Is the Theory of Change still valid?
• Is the organisation / programme working with the right people in the right way?
• To what extent have anticipated changes led to changes in the lives of targeted populations?
• What is now better understood than before?
• What needs to change in the understanding of how change happens, or an organisation or programme’s specific role within that?

The organisation must use the lessons from this reflection to act and to adapt the intervention(s), assumptions, strategy and so on.