MI enhances capacities on project monitoring and evaluation of government officials of Mekong countries
October 30, 2023
Mekong Institute (MI), with support from the Mekong-Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF), successfully organized a 5-day training on “Regional Project Monitoring and Evaluation” from October 30 – November 3, 2023, in Khon Kaen, Thailand. This comprehensive training workshop serves as the foundation for a broader journey towards capacity building for the joint formulation of a regional multisectoral monitoring and evaluation framework.
The activity also seeks to instill a culture of results-based management within the MKCF, with the support of a web/cloud-based project management system. The curriculum covered a wide range of topics from the fundamentals of results-based management and monitoring and evaluation to more advanced concepts such as data collection, evaluations and attribution, and contribution analysis.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Suriyan Vitchitlekarn, Executive Director of MI, underlined the need for a systematic results-based project management approach with appropriate institutional capacity and a robust M&E system, capable of tracking not only the progress of individual projects but also the measurement of progress towards regional goals, considering growing the significance and complexity of the MKCF and its projects.
“The workshop and subsequent formulation trajectory are an exciting opportunity to delve into seven key areas of development: Culture and Tourism, Human Resources Development, Agriculture and Rural Development, Infrastructure, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Environment, and Non-traditional Security Challenges. Each of these sectors represents a critical component of the region’s growth and prosperity. This week-long program is designed to ensure that each participant is well-equipped to contribute to these areas effectively and innovatively,” noted Mr. Madhurjya Kumar Dutta, MI’s Director for Trade and Investment Facilitation during the inaugural ceremony.
Bringing together a diverse cohort of 30 participants from various ministries from five Mekong countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Viet Nam, and Thailand) and the Republic of Korea (RoK) and MKCF project implementing agencies, the training was conducted in an engaging and informative manner, fostering active learning and practical application.
Furthermore, the training workshop facilitated an environment conducive to sharing insights, experiences, and ideas from diverse countries, thus nurturing interactivity among participants and provided a valuable platform for delving into regional challenges and opportunities with robust M&E system.
The training workshop is part of a vital component of the "Capacity Building on Regional Project Design, Implementation, Monitoring & Evaluation of Mekong-Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund (PRIME)" project, supported by the RoK. Launched in April of this year, this initiative, bolstered by the MKFC, pursues the overarching goal of enhancing institutional capacities for regional cooperation and integration among the five Mekong countries and the RoK.