Getting Started

This manual has been drafted to fulfill a fundamental need for field programs to monitor on-going or future projects that require the quantification of freshwater benefits. Given the wide variety of ways in which projects might be designed to obtain freshwater benefits, this manual cannot be exhaustive and prioritizes on experience being gained within Conservation International through existing projects or those on the horizon. It aims to equip the project teams with a first line of investigation towards developing a viable strategy for the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) effort. Project teams are encouraged to explore these ideas with the Freshwater Science team

Chapter 1 of the manual provides some key definitions as well as introduces to concepts that the project teams may need to consider when developing a M&E strategy, but mainly, a project team is guided along the following 3 steps:

Step 1: Scoping

Start here to work through a M&E decision tree to identify which benefit they should likely be focusing their efforts on.

Step 2: Designing

With benefit identified, develop an understanding of how change occurs for that benefit and this, identify which parameters could be measured in the time frame of the project.

Step 3: Implementation

Through practical examples, can get an idea of the method that might be viable for them for monitoring that specific parameter, the level of effort required and how to budget for this effort.