To ensure that the National Council’s Plan of Action delivers on the outcomes that have been identified, the Council proposes that a detailed Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy be developed in consultation with the Council, the sector, evaluation experts, academia, and governments. Given it is proposed that COAG would agree and resource the implementation of the Plan of Action, it is envisaged that COAG would commission the development of the Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy.
The Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy would include the development of agreed indicators for measuring the outcomes of the Plan of Action. The Strategy would set the baseline for monitoring change over the lifetime of the Plan and establish a methodology and timeframe for reporting on outcomes. The Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy would also provide for annual reporting to COAG on implementation progress, and in the longer term, impacts and performance.
The National Council recognises that some data and evidence would not be available initially; and through its proposed actions has set a very clear course for the development of data sets, information, standards, benchmarks and evidence as part of the approach to building the evidence base within each Outcome Area.
Monitoring efforts would seek to:
- determine whether the Plan of Action is unfolding as planned;
- identify obstacles and opportunities;
- suggest mid-course corrections that would increase the likelihood of the Plan of Action’s success by modifying the three-year implementation plans.
Such a Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy would require considerable work and coordination between all governments; but is essential to understanding what works, what works best and why, and ensuring that government and community investments are effective in preventing and reducing violence against women and their children.
The National Council envisages a primary role for the proposed National Centre of Excellence for the Prevention of Violence against Women in data collection and analysis as well as policy and program advice and workforce support. The Centre would therefore be well positioned as a key player in the monitoring and evaluation of the Plan of Action.
The National Council itself would also support the monitoring and evaluation of the Plan of Action.