Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation - Afforestation, Reforestation and Forest Restoration in Arid and Semi-arid Tropics - page 224

9.2.4 Reviewing The Programme

Fine tuning the execution of a programme as planned is necessary, but it may also be
necessary at times to alter the design of the programme. Such review, re-orientation or
redesign is called for when the reports—or field experience—suggest that the planned
activities in general need to be altered, either qualitatively or quantitatively. For
example, a programme may have provided for certain intensity of S&WC structures,
and it may be seen that the provisions are so inadequate that a large proportion of
plantation area is being left untreated. Or, that there is no scope for execution of the
intensity of planned work at most sites. In such cases, the whole programme may be
reviewed and redesigned. This will change not only the physical targets but also the
financial targets provided in the programme.
Removing bottlenecks experienced by people in field may be another objective of
reviewing and modifying the programme's elements. If the programme is designed
with built-in flexibility, such a situation may be rare. However, tactical decision
support to the field staff may still be required, which should be given promptly and
effectively.
Mid-term appraisal and reviews are undertaken to assess the impact of a pro-
gramme. They test whether the desired goals are being met. Such appraisals should
be carried out at programme level, not at divisional or unit level. For a quick appraisal
at programme level, impact can be visually assessed using remote sensing satellite
imageries in conjunction with GIS software.

9.2.5 Continued Feedback and Long-term Monitoring

The cycle of monitoring and review should not confine itself to the time of execution
of works only. Monitoring is more important, if anything, at a later stage when
maintenance activities are going on at a plantation site. In absence of appropriate
maintenance, all the work done up to that point may come to a nought. Long-term
monitoring will involve filling fewer forms, and less data, but the amount of field
inspections should not be reduced. Intensive inspections alone can ensure that what
has been assiduously created is being looked after well.

9.2.6 Measuring Achievements Against Programme Goals

It is necessary that after a programme is completed, its achievements be compared to
the original aims and objectives of the programme. While the tangible benefits can
be concretely assessed in quantitative terms, the intangibles should also be concre-
tised on some equivalence scale. The intangibles may feature as a part of the original
aims and objectives or these may be counted as co-benefits, but these certainly
are important. For example, the educational impact of a programme is a benefit