OVC Support Toolkit  >  Running a programme 

Improving the Work

This section looks at ways in which activities being carried out with orphans and other vulnerable children can be improved and strengthened. This is an essential part of running a programme once it has been started and some work is already being done. Three essential elements are considered here, namely monitoring and evaluation, working with others and setting standards. Key points about improving the work are:

1. Monitoring and evaluation of a project helps establish what has been achieved, including what has worked well and what could be better. Learning from such activities can be valuable in improving work.

2. NGOs can work with others in a variety of ways.

3. Setting standards to be reached in the provision of care for children can be useful for monitoring and evaluation, and for comparing different projects and approaches.

Monitoring and evaluation

Monitoring and evaluation of a project helps establish what has been achieved, including what has worked well and what could be better. Learning from such activities can be valuable in improving work. This learning may help project managers manage the project more effectively. It may also help the project change to deal with new challenges. It may also identify key people that the project needs to work with. These may be within the project or may be outside it.

Working with others

NGOs, including CBOs and faith-based organisations, can work with each other and with other types of organisations, such as government agencies, in a variety of ways. This may include formal networks, less formal linkages and through implementing joint projects. This contact with other organizations, locally, nationally and internationally can be a useful way of learning about other approaches which can be used to improve activities.

Setting standards

Setting standards to be reached in the provision of care for children can be useful for monitoring and evaluation, and for comparing different projects and approaches. Such standards can be used by organizations to define good practice and as targets to aim for. This is likely to improve the quality of work being carried out.

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