Monitoring and evaluation of development aid: evolution of aid and specificities of the project cycle

Abstract

This article examines the evolution of development aid towards a standardization of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) practices, focusing on the initiatives of the OECD Development Assistance Committee. Through a literature review, including the work of researchers, reports from development aid donors, and statistics from the OECD Development Assistance Committee, we analyze the main trends and dominant practices. The introduction of evaluation criteria in 1991 has become a benchmark in the field. These criteria allow for more measurable and uniform management of development aid. Each intervention modality is equipped with a specific monitoring and evaluation strategy, designed to measure and improve aid effectiveness. Project-based interventions are of predominant importance, the logical framework and project cycle management are methodologies that have revolutionized the planning and evaluation of development aid projects, reflecting an almost unanimous adoption of this approach in specialized literature and observed practices. The evaluation criteria include relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability, and coherence, each playing an essential role in the evaluation of development aid. The findings of this study show that standardization and methodological rigor are crucial to ensure that development aid achieves its objectives effectively and transparently. Moreover, the use of performance indicators and harmonized reporting systems contributes to better comparability and more accurate evaluation of results. The implementation of feedback mechanisms and the continuous adjustment of practices based on collected data allow for improved interventions and maximized impact. Therefore, a systematic and coherent approach to monitoring and evaluation is indispensable to optimize the effectiveness of development aid.

Keywords: Development aid, Official Development Assistance, Development Aid Project, Monitoring-Evaluation, Logical Framework Approach

Classification JEL: O22

Paper type: Theoretical Research