Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan template

A monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan describes how the whole M&E system for the program works. This includes the indicators, who is responsible for collecting them, what forms and tools will be used, and how the data will flow through the organisation.

You can think of an M&E plan as being like an M&E framework on steroids. For most small to medium size programs a basic M&E framework will be enough. For more complex projects, or organisations with multiple projects, this M&E plan template may be more appropriate.

Download the M&E Plan template (one project)

Download the M&E Plan template (multiple projects)

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan Template Screenshot

This M&E plan template is appropriate when:

  • You need to describe the whole monitoring and evaluation system that will be used to measure the success of a large or complex project.
  • The donor has not provided a template for you to use.

This M&E plan template is NOT appropriate when:

  • You only need to describe the indicators that will be used to measure the success of a small or medium size project (in this case a basic M&E framework is probably enough)
  • The donor has provided a template for you to use (in which case use their template).

Not sure how to write an M&E framework?
Complete our 1 hour eLearning module

Teaching M&E frameworks to others?
Download a lesson plan kit

Creative Commons License
The M&E plan template by tools4dev is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. All other content is © tools4dev.

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About Piroska Bisits Bullen

Piroska has worked on a range of international development programs involving local NGOs, international NGOs, UN agencies and government. She holds a Ph.D. in public health, has published articles in several journals, and was a speaker at TEDx Phnom Penh. Piroska is passionate about using scientific evidence and creativity to design programs that work.
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