Data and Monitoring Tools

Monitoring and research are essential processes in ensuring the relevance and effectiveness of programs, and the scope and type of service provision. They are integral components of analysis, strategic planning, and implementation for government and non-governmental organisations seeking to effect change, support or provide services.

Monitoring is an on-going process of gathering information e.g. statistics and tracking inputs and outputs, enabling the evaluation of what is working, and providing a mechanism for accountability. Combined with research, it facilitates the planning of improved resource allocation and service delivery. Research and monitoring can also help raise awareness of the gravity of a situation, both nationally and internationally. It should help convince those who are putting time, energy and money into supporting programmes that their efforts are worthwhile and should be continued.

Results of monitoring and evaluation should be fed directly back into programmes to correct weaknesses and improve performance. The outcomes of research and monitoring should also help improve child care policies. Results can be used to inform future programme design, prompting a decision to replicate an effective intervention in other areas or to discontinue an intervention because it is expensive and not making any beneficial changes.

The literature in this section provides statistical data on vulnerable children from a wide range of sources, as well as guidance and examples of data collection, indicators, analysis, and research methods regarding issues relating to vulnerable children.

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Children and Disability in Transition CEE/CIS and Baltic States

UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, 2005

Report presents and analyzes new research and data around children with disabilities in the region, the effects of institutional care, and the need for family support services.

Recognizing Child Abuse: What Parents Should Know

Prevent Child Abuse - America, 2005

A three-page document outlining how to recognize signs of abuse, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, or neglect.

Guide To Monitoring and Evaluation of the National Response for Children Orphaned and Made Vulnerable by HIV/AIDS

Roeland Monasch, Kate Spring, and Mary Mahy, 2005

A guide for governments, international organizations and NGO’s for measuring, monitoring and evaluating the national response for children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS.

Conducting a Participatory Situation Analysis of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Affected by HIV/AIDS: Guidelines and Tools

Rene DeMarco, 2005

Comprehensive framework and resource guide intended to aid a situation analysis of orphans and vulnerable children. Includes relevant example analyses to illustrate the available variety of approaches and their components.

http://www.crin.org/docs/SituationalAnalysis.pdf

The Ethics of Needs Assessments in Disaster Situations: Ensuring that Your Needs Assessments Interventions Do Not Cause Harm

Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies, 2005

Lists ethical “do’s and dont's” specific to Consultants/Advisors, Managers/Supervisors, and Field-Level Workers arranging and conducting Needs Assessments in disaster situations.

UNICEF Programming for Psychosocial Support: Frequently Asked Questions

UNICEF, 31 Dec 2004

Helpful resource for defining key terms, issues, and practices in psychosocial support. Contains a short list of recommended tools for support and monitoring of psychosocial support interventions.

Brazil's Bolsa Escola Program: The Role of Local Governance in Decentralized Implementation

Alain de Janvry, Frederico Finan, Elisabeth Sadoulet, Donald Nelson, Kathy Lindert, Benedict de la Briere, and Peter Lanjouw , 31 Dec 2004

Evaluation of the Bolsa Escola Program, which was a Brazilian social services program that provided cash transfers to families provided that their school-aged children would be enrolled in and attending school. Examines how beneficiaries were selected, registered, and monitored. Cites inconsistencies in implementation and roles of municipal governments as significant finding.

Child Protection: Children Without Parental Care

UNICEF, 2004

A brief fact sheet on the multilevel support needs of children without parental care. Includes a brief section on statistical data and examples of UNICEF action in several countries around the world.