Program Monitoring

Program monitoring means collecting, tracking and analyzing data to determine progress of various activities under the defined thematic areas against the stated objectives at the district and sub-district level on real-time basis and periodically. Monitoring uses a set of core indicators and targets to provide timely and accurate information in order to review performance and inform progress and thus facilitating decision-making processes. This helps to find timely solutions to the performance gaps- in each district. Program monitoring is also of paramount importance for ongoing program planning and implementation. Program monitoring should be a routine function of STDCs.

STDC need to access the Ni-kshay data and monitor the completeness, correctness and timeliness of data entry. They have to monitor the district wise performances on a day to day basis using the key indicators suggested by the NTEP. Further periodic Ni-kshay data analysis has to be undertaken for monitoring program performance.   

Whenever there is a significant under/over achievement or a remarkable variation of a particular outcome indicator, STDCs need to do a 'Root Cause Analysis' by looking at the input, process and output indicators related to it to find out the reason for the same. Using the Ni-kshay data, STDCs also should do the person, place and time analysis to gain insights to identify patterns and anomalies that may indicate reasons for poor or under achievement.

Based on the ongoing review, the STDC needs to

  1. Convey feedback and action points to the districts, as and when they find an issue. The feedback shall include the detailed observations on key indicators, their Root Cause Analysis in short and suggested solutions to overcome the same.
  2. Obtain timely action taken reports and in-turn monitor the change in performance after the action.
  3. Purposively select Districts/ TUs/ health facilities to be visited during supportive supervision, and evaluation.
  4. Identify priority performance themes and geographies (Districts/ TUs) to be reviewed during periodic review meetings.

Details of the processes and approach to be followed in monitoring would be specified in the NTEP Monitoring, Supervision guidelines.