Institute of Development Studies

Research Communications M&E Group

The Research Communications Monitoring and Evaluation Group is an informal network which was formed as a way of sharing experiences and challenges relating to the monitoring and evaluation of development research communications programmes in the UK. Organisations involved include the International Institute for the Environment and Development (IIED), Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Panos London, Healthlink Worldwide, the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP), the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Wren Media and SciDev.Net. The group currently meets quarterly, rotating hosts and presenters. For more information on the group, please contact Steve Tovell.

In September 2006 the group held a workshop, supported by the Department for International Development (DfID), to explore the key factors and concepts behind monitoring and evaluation for research communications. The two day workshop involved more than 40 participants and looked at issues such as: 

• Organisational learning

• M&E implementation tools

• Stakeholder engagement

• Concepts and frameworks

• Audiences for monitoring and evaluation

Butcher, C and Yaron, G (2006) Scoping study: Monitoring and Evaluation of Research Communications. This scoping study was produced to inform the workshop. The report gives an overview of the key issues, draws out the differences between M&E of research communications compared with M&E more generally and looks at examples of good practice.

A summary of the scoping study and workshop findings is also available: Nick Perkins et al (2006) Proving our worth: developing capacity for the monitoring and evaluation of communicating research in development Healthlink Worldwide, London