Monitoring and Evaluation has its roots in the Bible, take a look at the book of Genesis which describes the act of creation.

Author: Byrone Buyu Wayodi, M&E Specialist;

Current role: Global Director Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, Asante Africa Foundation

These are personal reflections and are open to constructive feedback and criticism

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) are essential components of project management, as they allow us to track progress towards achieving desired outcomes and goals. Monitoring refers to the ongoing process of gathering data on project activities and outcomes, while evaluation refers to the systematic assessment of project performance against predetermined criteria. Outcomes refer to the desired changes that a project aims to achieve, while goals refer to specific targets that are set to measure progress towards those outcomes.

In the context of the story of creation in the book of Genesis, we can see examples of all these elements of M&E. The opening statement of Genesis, " In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)," can be seen as an outcome that was achieved through God's creative process. The verse establishes that God created the heavens and the earth, which serves as the starting point for the rest of the creation story in Genesis. Later in the chapter, we see that God creates light, separates the waters, forms the land, and creates plants, animals, and humans. One possible goal that can be inferred from this is that God intended to create a diverse and thriving world, full of life and beauty.? In current M&E practice, this act of God demonstrates the importance of clearly defining and articulating outcomes at the beginning of a project, and tracking progress towards achieving them.

Genesis 1:31 says, "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day." the evaluation of God's work in Genesis 1:31 can serve as an example for project evaluation in modern times. It highlights the importance of systematically assessing project performance against predetermined criteria to ensure that the desired outcomes are being achieved. This process of evaluation can help project managers to identify areas where improvements can be made and where goals are being met. While the term "good" may be subjective and relative, M&E practitioners use various techniques, such as weighting of indicators, to create more comprehensive and objective indicators of progress towards desired outcomes. Furthermore, we all marvel at the beauty of nature which is a testament to God's marvelous creation and serves as an inspiration for project managers to always make sure that the intended population for their project benefits can also marvel at the benefits of the programs in their own lives.

The Bible tells us that God observed and reflected on His creation, and declared that it was good. This is a powerful example of the importance of observation as an M&E technique. Observation involves watching project activities and outcomes as they happen, and taking note of any deviations from the planned activities or outcomes. This technique can help project managers to identify potential issues or problems early on, and take corrective action to keep the project on track.

Based on Genesis 1:1-27, God used a process of spoken commands to bring about creation. He spoke and different elements of the world were formed such as light, the sky, land, and sea. One approach to M&E is to use a logical framework that identifies the desired outcomes, activities, and inputs needed to achieve a project's objectives. In the book of Genesis, we see a similar approach when God outlines the desired outcomes of creation (Genesis 1:28-31), the activities needed to achieve those outcomes (Genesis 1:1-27).

The creation of man on the sixth day of creation in Genesis 1 can be seen as the ultimate outcome in the hierarchy of God's plan. This means that for the creation of man to be successful, the outcomes of the first five days of creation were essential in making the sixth day possible. For example, the creation of the earth, water, and light, as well as the animals, were all necessary precursors to the creation of man.

As M&E practitioners, this demonstrates the level of interconnectedness of activities and outcomes towards achieving the goals as they should be described in the logical model of programs. In program design, it is important to clearly identify and articulate the relationship between the activities and outcomes in order to achieve the ultimate goals of the program. The success of the entire program depends on the successful implementation and achievement of each outcome in the logical sequence.

This also highlights the importance of monitoring and evaluating the program at every stage to ensure that each outcome is being achieved in a timely and effective manner. By monitoring progress towards each outcome, adjustments can be made to activities and interventions to ensure that the ultimate goals are achieved. The creation story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of planning, monitoring, and evaluating in achieving desired outcomes and goals.

The creation story in Genesis provides a useful framework for identifying key indicators and activities for each day of creation. For instance, on day one, God created light and darkness; on day two, He created the sky and the sea; on day three, He created land and vegetation; on day four, He created the sun, moon, and stars; on day five, He created sea creatures and birds, and on day six, He created land animals and humans. To measure success, one can use the time taken to complete each task as an indicator, such as the time taken to create sea creatures and birds. Evaluation can then be done by observing the presence of these creations based on their chronological accounts. Presently a wide range of evaluation objectives can be generated for instance how the creation story has influenced the values and beliefs of individuals from different faiths and cultures or whether the interpretation and understanding of the creation story evolved over time.

To track progress, project management tools such as work plans and gantt charts can be utilized. The creation story also highlights the importance of involving key stakeholders in the creation process, as God did by using the phrase "let us create." This emphasizes the need to work collaboratively with stakeholders and to engage them in decision-making throughout the project lifecycle

In summary relationships can be derived from the creation story which can be seen as a call for accountability and tracking progress and outcomes right from the beginning of time. God created different elements and observed their presence, which can be seen as a form of monitoring. He also evaluated each day's work, which can be seen as a form of evaluation. M&E practitioners can draw inspiration from this example to design effective M&E frameworks. It is important to monitor progress and evaluate outcomes to ensure that projects and programs are on track and achieve their intended results. M&E can provide valuable feedback for program improvement and decision-making.

Have a blessed week