Table 1.
M&E needs in ECD programmes according to level of impact framework
| Level of M&E framework | What are we trying to measure? | What is available? |
| Impact (outcomes) |
Deaths.
Disability. Child development – multiple domains. Child health. Function and participation. Education. Well-being and quality of life. Adolescent and adult outcomes. |
Proxy measures of child development (eg, stunting). Limited childhood disability data. Child mortality and health morbidity data. |
| Risk factors for targeting | Biopsychosocial risk: Stunting/undernutrition (2.2). Low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth, neonatal encephalopathy and sepsis (3.2). Extreme poverty (1.2). Exposure to violence (16.2). Access to education (4.2). Maternal mental health and education. |
Stunting. Neonatal estimates – LBW and preterm. Maternal mortality and birth by age 18 years. Maltreatment, harsh punishment and inadequate supervision. |
| Coverage* | Intervention coverage by domain of the NCF (relative to population need health, nutrition, security and safety, responsive caregiving and early learning) | Responsive caregiving – nil routine. Healthcare and nutrition – various per RMNCH indicators. Early learning – homes that have children’s books, children who have support for learning, children have playthings at home and attendance in early childhood education. Safety and security – birth registration, basic drinking water and basic sanitation. |
| Quality | Quality of programme provision. Client experience of service provision. Home care. |
Quality of intervention measures. |
| Inputs (service and home readiness, policy and finances) |
Numbers of workers. Service readiness. ‘Home readiness’. ECD policy supports. Fiscal environment and resources. |
Home context. Policy – maternity leave, convention of the rights of the child, breast feeding. Education, child health and social protection grants. National government and donor finance. |
Bold texts typically measured within routine MNCH programmes.
*Defined as the number of individuals receiving an intervention or service (the numerator) compared with the population in need of the intervention or service (the denominator).47
ECD, early child development; M&E, monitoring and evaluation; MNCH, maternal, newborn and child health; NCF, Nurturing Care Framework.