The need for monitoring and result evaluation in a development project – experiences from the Mahaweli Project

Abstract

Lund, R. 1983. The need for monitoring and result evaluation in a development project – experiences from the Mahaweli Project. Norsk geogr. Tidsskr. Vol. 37, 171–186. Oslo. ISSN 0029-1951.

The aim of this article is to stress the need for monitoring and evaluation in project work. Field experiences (1978 and 1981) from ‘The Accelerated Mahaweli Irrigation and Settlement Project’ (MAP) area are used to illustrate problems arising when monitoring and evaluation are negligible, even lacking, in project plans and development. Four project components (social relations, agricultural structure, income and work environment) are discussed and their effects on local society are analysed. It is further stated that possible remedies to cope with most of these problems do exist if they are properly identified and analysed through monitoring and evaluation.