Program Design for Monitoring and Evaluation

Effective programs require more than good intentions - they depend on rigorous design and clear measurement strategies. This course guides professionals in operationalizing theory into actionable, measurable frameworks within development, government, and NGO settings. Building on your foundation in monitoring and evaluation, you'll learn to convert abstract ideas into precise indicators and systems that drive accountability, learning, and impact.
 
You will explore advanced techniques for translating program objectives into reliable metrics, designing evaluation logic models, and selecting appropriate methodologies. The curriculum emphasizes both quantitative and qualitative approaches and is grounded in real-world case studies across sectors.
 

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Develop a theory of change and translate it into a logic model or results framework
• Define evaluative questions and plan an evaluation capacity strategy
• Select and design robust indicators to establish validity, reliability, baselines, and targets
• Distinguish among evaluation designs (process, outcome, impact) and choose methods aligned with program goals
• Plan data collection systems and integrate monitoring and evaluation into program implementation
• Interpret evaluation outputs and apply insights to adaptive management, performance improvement, and strategic decisions

Please note that students are required to attend at least 80% of the synchronous sessions.

Prerequisite note: Students should take Introduction to M&E before or concurrently with this course. Students who would like to receive special consideration to join this course without enrolling in the full Certificate should contact Michelle D’Amico at mcd231@nyu.edu.
Continuing Education Units (CEU) : 3

You'll walk away with

• The skills to identify appropriate methods for monitoring and evaluation
• The ability to utilize tools and methods for community-led design
• The knowledge to identify, create, and use qualitative and quantitative indicators for monitoring impact
• A toolkit to design an operationalization for a monitoring and evaluation plan
• The ability to draw conclusions for policy analysis based on the monitoring and evaluation program

Ideal for

• Professionals interested in the field of monitoring and evaluation
• Students pursuing the Certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation