Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) form a research branch that focuses on knowing if a project works as expected. M&E is a component within every development project and requires staff with research expertise. Researchers who master M&E tools will find opportunities to work as M&E consultants or full-time staff for projects of this kind.
M&E lessons and tools are not separately taught in universities. Researchers, instead, learn M&E methods by engaging in development projects. Different donors have different M&E requirements. In the developing world, it is still a challenge for leaders of projects in developing and maintaining effective M&E systems.
International organisations, including UN agencies, offer M&E lessons to researchers who are interested in this particular field. These lessons can be referred to as 'standards' of M&E techniques. The link below leads to UNICEF's section on evaluation. Researchers can find methods, tools and advises relating to M&E from websites of other large organisations, such as UNDP or CRS.
