4. Program monitoring, evaluation, a. Partially agree. AusAID very much AusAID (and the M&E specialist) AusAID East Asia Regional program’s communication and knowledge acknowledges the importance of to monitor, with the ASU, progress in the officers in consultation with the management monitoring and evaluation (M&E), collection of data from the M&E M&E specialist and ASU. a. Resources should be allocated to better particularly in terms of demonstrating instruments, and investigate options for monitor, analyze, document and disseminate the effectiveness of programs and their improving the current approach, for evidence of the links from AECSP supported link to aid outcomes. However the example increasing participant response activities to the facilitation of regional trade, approach outlined in the IPR is highly rates. AusAID will also liaise with the M&E investment and employment. resource intensive and has both specialist to assess the capacity to improve budgetary and human resources the current approach in the future, once b. Develop and implement an AECSP implications. M&E capacity is built through incremental communications strategy, including increases to project reporting requirements. strategies to raise awareness of AANZFTA There will always be a practical limit to related business results and opportunities in the to conduct the program’s ability AMS, New Zealand and Australia, and more research required to link such effective use of the AECSP website to capacity development to on-the-ground highlight program results and lessons outcomes. It is noted that the IPR itself learned largely uses examples of capacity built as commendable outcomes of the c. Consider the need for a review of program program. Obtaining evidence of how priorities and work program following the this capacity development has been AANZFTA review of progress in applied and thereby translated into implementing the built-in agenda. improved statistics and effects, other than through follow-up reporting by d. Prepare, and present to ASEC leadership, participants, would require very periodic summary results review significant additional resources.. reports (e.g., AADCP II reports may provide useful models). The recently implemented M&E instruments, which will monitor participant results six months after the ECWP activity, are designed to capture the link between these activities and results and potential development outcomes. These instruments are being managed by the ASU and AusAID acknowledges the considerable effort they are putting into this task. As these instruments have only recently been implemented,
4. Program monitoring, evaluation, communication and knowledge management a. Resources should be allocated to better monitor, analyze, document and disseminate evidence of the links from AECSP supported activities to the facilitation of regional trade, investment and employment. b. Develop and implement an AECSP communications strategy, including strategies to raise awareness of AANZFTA related business results and opportunities in AMS, New Zealand and Australia, and more effective use of the AECSP website to highlight program results and lessons learned c. Consider the need for a review of program priorities and work program following the AANZFTA review of progress in implementing the built-in agenda. d. Prepare, and present to ASEC leadership, periodic summary results review reports (e.g., AADCP II reports may provide useful models). a. Partially agree. AusAID very much acknowledges the importance of monitoring and evaluation (M&E), particularly in terms of demonstrating the effectiveness of programs and their link to aid outcomes. However the approach outlined in the IPR is highly resource intensive and has both budgetary and human resources implications. There will always be a practical limit to the program’s ability to conduct the research required to link such capacity development to on-the-ground outcomes. It is noted that the IPR itself largely uses examples of capacity built as commendable outcomes of the program. Obtaining evidence of how this capacity development has been applied and thereby translated into improved statistics and effects, other than through follow-up reporting by participants, would require very significant additional resources.. The recently implemented M&E instruments, which will monitor participant results six months after the ECWP activity, are designed to capture the link between these activities and results and potential development outcomes. These instruments are being managed by the ASU and AusAID acknowledges the considerable effort they are putting into this task. As these instruments have only recently been implemented, AusAID (and the program’s M&E specialist) to monitor, with the ASU, progress in the collection of data from the M&E instruments, and investigate options for improving the current approach, for example increasing participant response rates. AusAID will also liaise with the M&E specialist to assess the capacity to improve the current approach in the future, once M&E capacity is built through incremental increases to project reporting requirements. AusAID East Asia Regional officers in consultation with the M&E specialist and ASU.
aanzfta-ecsp-ipr-2013-mgt-response.docx