MAKE DEVELOPMENT INCLUSIVE
How to include the perspectives of persons with disabilities in the project cycle management guidelines of the EC

8. Implementation and Monitoring: How to include a disability perspective

The implementation and monitoring phases of the project cycle answer the questions: "Are the resources being used efficiently and effectively? What corrective action should be taken?"

This section briefly presents:

  1. What are these phases about?

    2. This section refers to the EC's PCM Guidelines for Aid Delivery Methods (2004), available at http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/reports/pcm_guidelines_2004_en.pdf.

    At the implementation and monitoring phases the decision has already been taken to finance projects and programmes. During the implementation and monitoring phases results are delivered, purpose(s) and the overall objective of the project are achieved, the available resources are managed efficiently and progress is monitored and reported.

    What are these phases about?
    Expected output PCM guidelines ref. (edited in 2004) EC supporting documents Information requirements
    Operational work plans - Progress reports - Reviews /study reports /Completion reports Part. 1 Section 4.5. Implementation Quality criteria and standards (see Section 4.5.7)
    Activity/work programme schedules and resource/budget schedules (See Section 5 Risk management matrix (see Section 7.2.2)
    • Checklists for planning short-visits, conducting interviews and managing regular review meetings (see Section 7)
    • Guidance on promoting participation and using facilitation skills (See Section 8) Part 2 - Logframe matrix
    		 Progress report formats (See Section 7) -including CRIS's
    • Scope of the project
    • Purpose
    • Output
    • Activities
    • Resource requirements - budget
    ToR
    • Terms of Reference (see Section 9)
    		 Chap. 9, Prepare ToR; p. 129-130  

  2. What is the purpose of including a disability perspective during these phases?
    • To monitor the results of projects which include a disability perspective
    • To monitor the spending of budget allocated for including the perspectives of persons with disabilities
    • To measure the effects of excluding a disability perspective in projects
  3. Expected results of including a disability perspective during the implementation and monitoring phases
    • There is an increased chance that project reorientations will address the rights of people living in poverty and persons with disabilities in particular
    • Data collected through the monitoring system will give evidence and figures on the disability related impact/outcomes in your project areas
    • The disability perspective will be included in the learning process conducted during the implementation phase (see figure 11 "Implementation: a learning process", in PCM guidelines, p. 42). This will provide information about:
      • what the consequences are of not including a disability perspective in the project
      • what the possible difficulties are and keys for success for including a disability perspective in the project
  4. Difficulties often encountered and keys to success

    Here is a list of difficulties you may face at this stage and suggestions on how to overcome them.

    1. The initial project does not specifically mention persons with disabilities.

    It can happen that the project, once identified and formulated, does not include a disability perspective. It might therefore be difficult to include a disability perspective in the implementation and monitoring phase. While it might be difficult for projects which require a low level of disability inclusion it is highly recommended to include a disability dimension during the implementation and monitoring of projects requiring a high level of disability inclusion (see 'different degrees of inclusion' : Word (169 Ko) - PDF (86 Ko)). If a disability perspective is not included in projects where a high level of disability inclusion is indicated, persons with disabilities will be distinctly discriminated against.

    Here are the possible options for disability inclusion at the implementation & monitoring phase:

    If the project is at its inception

    This period of project implementation covers activities like establishing working relationships with stakeholders; holding inception workshops(s); reviewing and revising the project plan; establishing M&E systems (see chapt. 4.5. Implementation & Monitoring phase, PCM Manual, p. 39).

    • invite stakeholders for disability inclusion to the project inception workshop
    • consult with them during the review and the revision of the project plan, in order to reduce, as much as possible, the possible negative impacts of persons with disabilities not being properly included in the planned project
    • establish the M&E system with consideration to persons with disability in the target area
      • Use the tool 'different degrees of inclusion' : Word (169 Ko) - PDF (86 Ko) to ascertain what level of disability inclusion is required for the project.
      • See 'Accessible meetings and events' : Word (171 Ko) - PDF (91 Ko) if you are inviting stakeholders for disability inclusion to a meeting

    If the project is at its implementation phase

    On an ongoing basis, activities at this point are related to: implementing activities and deploying resources accordingly; monitoring and reviewing progress, revising operational plans in light of experience, etc. Therefore, at this stage of the project the only possibility of including a disability perspective is through the mid-term reviews/external evaluation. In this case, the objective will be to assess if and to what extent persons with disabilities are excluded from the outputs of the project.

  5. What is the cost implication for including a disability perspective during this phase?
    • To train and/or provide disability awareness to staff and other stakeholders involved in data collection
    • To conduct focus group discussions with persons with disabilities (minimal cost)
    • If you wish to have an overview of the disability situation in the given country, use 'framework for a disability analysis at country level' : Word (164 Ko) - PDF (80 Ko)

    6. If you plan to organise a workshop/working session and would like to invite stakeholders from the disability sector for a meeting and ensure their participation:

    This manual is part of the project "Disability mainstreaming in Development Cooperation", supported by DG Employment and Social Affairs of the European Commission. The contents of this manual are the sole responsibility of CBM.