Background Information

MONITORING AND EVALUATION DIRECTORATE

The Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate (MED) is one of the directorates in the State Department for Economic Planning in the National Treasury and Planning. MED was created in 2003/04 to coordinate implementation of the National Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation System (NIMES) in the Country. The NIMES, which has been in operation since 2004, aims at tracking the implementation of Government policies, programmes and projects in the Country. NIMES is firmly embedded in the National Performance Management Framework (NPMF) for public sector reforms, and is therefore a core pillar of Government’s Results-Based Management (RBM) system.

BACKGROUND

The first comprehensive M&E System in Kenya was conceptualized in the year 2000 during the formulation and implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). During this period, the focus of M&E was mainly on National level programmes interventions and was led by development partners. In 2003, the Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation (ERSWEC) was developed. ERSWEC (2003-2007) recognized the importance of M&E in promoting accountability to enhance good governance and hence stipulated that the Government would undertake M&E to track its policies, programmes and projects. In 2004, a government-wide M&E system, the National Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation System (NIMES), was established and subsequently, the Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate was created to coordinate the system.

Further, Kenya’s Constitution 2010 fundamentally changed the Country’s governance structures. The System of devolved government provides an opportunity for strengthening the Country’s M&E System through increased stakeholders participation.