Complexity-Aware Monitoring and Evaluation

Background: Addressing today’s sustainability challenges requires adopting a systemic approach where social and ecological systems are treated as integrated social-ecological systems. Such complex, the international development sector increasingly recognises need to account for complexity of that they seek transform.
 Purpose: This paper sketches out elements complexity-aware monitoring evaluation (M&E) system programmes in area sustainable development. 
 Setting: Not applicable.
 Data Collection Analysis: The authors draw on existing literature their own experience from working field M&E.
 Findings: An M&E should not be seen simply tool track compliance against pre-determined theory change. Instead, it is most useful real-time approach, constantly defining re-defining narratives change help push along trajectories interest. Dealing with involves embracing uncertainty; this established notions accountability—something which funders implementers must begin redefine together.
 Keywords: monitoring; evaluation; complexity; systems; programmes; change;