Collaborative monitoring and evaluation: assessing the uptake of improved fallows and biomass transfer in western Kenya

Abstract

Few references are available on collaborative monitoring and evaluation, that is, how diverse organizations promoting similar innovations can together assess their efforts. We examined the experience of 30 organizations in working together in western Kenya, from 1999 to 2003, assessing their impact in helping farmers to adapt and adopt two soil fertility practices. While the collaborative process improved the flow of information among organizations, it did not reduce monitoring costs, but rather increased them. The process increased participating organizations' awareness of farmer innovations and the number being promoted. The process also contributed to the formation of a consortium among the participating organizations. We viewed the benefits of the collaborative approach as greater than the costs, but recognize that the resources for implementing such exercises may often not be available