The M&E Basics toolkit provides an overview of key M&E principles including guidance for monitoring for ILAB worker rights programs. Please also be sure to refer to the Complexity-Aware and Systems Thinking Resource Library for more information on how projects can integrate systems thinking and complexity-aware principles into their MEL systems, as well as the Resource Library on Learning & Adaptation to complement these traditional M&E approaches.

Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation

  • ILAB Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning page  | This page includes a general introduction on ILAB’s MEL processes. This includes DOL’s Evaluation Policy, and several synthesis evaluations of ILAB labor rights programs, including the 2020 OTLA Synthesis Evaluation Report.
  • Basic Principles of Monitoring and Evaluation | This guide provides ILO-developed M&E definitions and introductions to theory of change; performance indicators, targets, baseline and data sources; and measuring results.

Theory of Change

Risks and Assumptions

  • Risk Management in USAID: Proposed Definition and Conceptual Framework |This document summarizes some definitions and approaches to risk management currently used in the private and public sectors, and proposes a conceptual framework for understanding how current practices map against contemporary standards and practices.
  • Theory of Change Guide No. 5: Assumptions, InFocus | This PowerPoint provides guidance on assumptions that underpin theories of change. This explains what assumptions are, why grantees should develop assumptions, and three assumption types.
  • Why Assess Human Rights Risks? | This webpage describes the process of carrying out human rights due diligence, a four-step process for identifying and assessing actual and potential impacts, implementing measures to prevent and mitigate impacts, tracking the effectiveness of these measures, and reporting on how impacts are being addressed.

Monitoring Approaches

Performance Monitoring

  • Selecting Performance Indicators | This resource from USAID’s Monitoring Toolkit provides an overview of performance indicator requirements and outlines practical steps and considerations for selecting performance indicators. This references USAID policy, however, many of the principles discussed are applicable to indicator selection for ILAB projects.
  • Ten Steps to a Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation System | This handbook can serve as a guide on how to design and construct a results-based M&E system in the public sector. The focus of the handbook is on a comprehensive ten-step model that will help guide you through the process of designing and building a results-based M&E system.
  • Performance Indicator Baselines | This resource from USAID’s Monitoring Toolkit offers guidance for planning and collecting performance indicator baseline data for monitoring and evaluation. This references USAID policy, however, much of the guidance can be applied to indicator baselines for ILAB projects.
  • Performance Indicator Targets | This resource from USAID’s Monitoring Toolkit provides guidelines and good practices for USAID and its partners to set targets for performance indicators, use targets to compare to actual data, and adjust targets when necessary. Although this resource is catered to USAID partners, much of the guidance is applicable to ILAB grantees.
  • Guidelines on designing a gender-sensitive results-based monitoring (RBM) system | These guidelines are intended to help all those who work on results-based monitoring (RBM). Its focus is on the specific challenges of integrating the topic of gender equality. Part A provides general and practical advice on gender-sensitive monitoring. Part B focuses on formulating gender-relevant indicators that can be used as strategic levers for strengthening gender mainstreaming.

Context Monitoring

  • The 5Rs Framework in the Program Cycle | The 5Rs Framework highlights five key dimensions of systems: Results, Roles, Relationships, Rules and Resources. Collectively these 5Rs can serve as a lens for assessing local systems and a guide for identifying and monitoring interventions designed to strengthen them. This provides examples of aspects of the system that could be monitored throughout project implementation.

M&E for Workers' Rights Programs – ILAB Guidance

  • Guidance on Results Frameworks Performance Indicators and Monitoring for Sustainability |This report was produced by Mathematica from a review of 19 final evaluations of ILAB projects. It includes resulting guidance on TOCs, results frameworks, performance indicators, and monitoring for sustainability.
  • Resource Toolkit for Common Project Design and Implementation Challenges | This PowerPoint presentation was produced by Mathematica from a review of 19 final evaluations of ILAB projects. This includes examples of exemplary indicators and key challenges and solutions that grantees may face during implementation.
  • UN SDG Website | This website provides information on the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), targets and indicators, which were developed by the UN in consultation with member states and social partners. Using SDG indicators to assess impact (as opposed to developing ILAB-specific indicators) allows ILAB and its grantees to demonstrate contribution to the achievement of the SDGs and to engage with governments and other partners in working toward shared goals, using shared metrics for success.