The Framework received the Best Evaluation Policy and Systems Award, which was presented last night at the Australasian Evaluation Society International Conference Dinner in Adelaide.
The award recognises evaluation practice that demonstrates quality, represents leading edge practice, makes a contribution to the knowledge of evaluation, is effective in achieving client/project outcomes and reinforces evaluation practice. The Mongolia Australian Scholarships Program (MASP) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework was able to demonstrate achievement in all of these areas.
The Framework was developed in collaboration with Dr Ian Patrick, AusAID and Coffey International Development. All three received an award in recognition of their contribution.
Sam Spurrett, General Manager – Development (Asia Pacific) for Coffey International Development accepted the award on Coffey’s behalf.
According to Sam, “The M&E framework has provided a strong basis for MASP to collect data and to verify impact and performance for the entire program. As well as providing accountability to stakeholders, such as AusAID and the Government of Mongolia, the framework has supported program management and improvement and enabled us to identify lessons learned.”
This framework could have application in other Coffey-managed scholarship programs, and we would like to recognise the contributing efforts of the MASP team, which includes the team in-country and short-term international advisors.
Coffey International Development has managed the MASP program, and the Mongolia-Australia Targeted Capacity Building and Small Activity Facility program that preceded it since 2003. Results show that MASP alumni are making a marked impact to Mongolia’s development in the private and public sectors.
The Mongolia Australian Scholarships Program is part of a range of AusAID-funded Australian scholarships offered to developing countries, collectively called Australian Awards. The aim is to support education, human resource development and to build links between Australia and the recipient country. Focusing on Masters level study, scholarships are provided in targeted areas to fill identified human resource gaps in Mongolia. Recipients include employees of targeted government ministries and agencies, the private sector, universities and NGOs.
