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Master of Arts in Monitoring and Evaluation

The Master of Arts in Monitoring and Evaluation is a postgraduate programme that provides advanced training in programme monitoring, evaluation, research, and evidence-based decision-making. The programme prepares graduates for M&E leadership roles in development, health, education, and humanitarian programmes.

Core areas include M&E frameworks, indicators, monitoring systems, evaluation design, data collection, data analysis, research methods, and utilisation of M&E findings. Students engage with both M&E theory and practical evaluation applications.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi, Maseno University, and Mount Kenya University. UoN offers MA in M&E through its Institute of Population Studies and Research. Maseno offers the programme through its e-campus with 16 modules. MKU offers the programme at KES 65,000/semester.

Students develop competencies in M&E framework design, indicator development, monitoring systems, evaluation methods, data analysis, and evidence-based decision-making. The programme includes coursework, practical M&E projects, examinations, research project or thesis, and oral defence.

UoN tuition is KES 27,000 per unit with total programme cost of approximately KES 538,000 (~KES 269,000/year). Maseno charges KES 280,000 total for 16 modules (~KES 140,000/year). MKU charges KES 65,000/semester (~KES 130,000/year). Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division.

Graduates pursue careers as M&E officers, M&E managers, evaluation consultants, research officers, and programme managers in NGOs, government, UN agencies, and development organisations.

Skills Required

M&E Framework Design
Indicator Development and Monitoring Systems
Evaluation Design and Methods
Data Collection and Analysis
Research Methods in M&E
Logic Models and Theory of Change
Quantitative and Qualitative Data Analysis
Project and Programme Management
Evidence-Based Decision Making
M&E Reporting and Communication

Key Subjects

M&E Frameworks and Logic Models
Indicator Development
Evaluation Design and Methods
Research Methods in M&E
Data Collection and Analysis
Monitoring Systems
Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis
Project Management
Results-Based Management
M&E Utilisation and Advocacy

Certifications

AfrEA Evaluation Certification
IOCE Evaluation Certification

Specializations

Programme Monitoring

Focuses on programme monitoring, monitoring systems, indicators, data collection, routine monitoring, and tracking programme performance and progress.

Evaluation

Examines evaluation design, impact evaluation, process evaluation, formative and summative evaluation, and conducting programme evaluations.

Research Methods

Covers research methods, design, data collection, analysis, surveys, and conducting research for M&E and evidence generation.

Data Analysis

Focuses on data analysis, quantitative analysis, qualitative analysis, statistics, data visualisation, and analysing M&E data.

Health M&E

Examines health M&E, health indicators, HMIS, disease surveillance, and monitoring and evaluating health programmes.

Development M&E

Covers development M&E, programme evaluation, impact assessment, results-based management, and monitoring and evaluating development programmes.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 269,000
Private, up to: Ksh 130,000
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, Online
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

M&E Frameworks and Logic Models
Indicator Development
Evaluation Design and Methods
Research Methods in M&E
Data Collection and Analysis
Monitoring Systems
Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis
Project Management
Results-Based Management
M&E Utilisation and Advocacy

Modules

12 in the programme

Foundations of Monitoring and Evaluation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines M&E foundations, concepts, frameworks, logic models, theory of change, results chains, and understanding M&E principles and frameworks.
M&E Frameworks and Indicator Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers M&E frameworks, indicator development, SMART indicators, output and outcome indicators, and developing M&E indicators and frameworks.
Research Methods in M&E
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines research methods, design, data collection, analysis, surveys, and conducting research for M&E and evidence generation.
Monitoring Systems and Data Collection
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers monitoring systems, data collection, HMIS, routine monitoring, surveys, and designing and managing monitoring systems.
Evaluation Design and Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines evaluation design, impact evaluation, process evaluation, RCTs, quasi-experimental designs, and conducting programme evaluations.
Quantitative Data Analysis in M&E
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers quantitative data analysis, statistics, SPSS, data visualisation, and analysing quantitative M&E data.
Qualitative Data Analysis in M&E
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines qualitative data analysis, coding, thematic analysis, NVivo, and analysing qualitative M&E data.
Results-Based Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers results-based management, RBM frameworks, results chains, performance management, and managing for results.
Impact Evaluation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines impact evaluation, causal inference, counterfactual, RCTs, difference-in-differences, and measuring programme impact.
M&E of Population and Development Programmes
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers M&E of population and development programmes, health M&E, education M&E, and applying M&E to specific sectors.
M&E Utilisation and Advocacy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines M&E utilisation, evidence-based decision-making, advocacy, communication, and using M&E findings for decision-making and learning.
Research Project or Thesis
Year 2Semester 28 creditsCore
Original research project or thesis on an M&E topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Programme Monitoring
Focuses on programme monitoring, monitoring systems, indicators, data collection, routine monitoring, and tracking programme performance and progress.
Evaluation
Examines evaluation design, impact evaluation, process evaluation, formative and summative evaluation, and conducting programme evaluations.
Research Methods
Covers research methods, design, data collection, analysis, surveys, and conducting research for M&E and evidence generation.
Data Analysis
Focuses on data analysis, quantitative analysis, qualitative analysis, statistics, data visualisation, and analysing M&E data.
Health M&E
Examines health M&E, health indicators, HMIS, disease surveillance, and monitoring and evaluating health programmes.
Development M&E
Covers development M&E, programme evaluation, impact assessment, results-based management, and monitoring and evaluating development programmes.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MA M&E programme begins with morning lectures on M&E frameworks, evaluation design, or data analysis. Students engage with both M&E theory and practical evaluation applications. M&E framework sessions cover logic models, theory of change, results chains, and designing M&E frameworks. Indicator sessions examine indicator development, SMART indicators, output and outcome indicators, and developing M&E indicators. Evaluation sessions cover evaluation design, impact evaluation, process evaluation, RCTs, quasi-experimental designs, and conducting programme evaluations. Data collection sessions examine surveys, interviews, focus groups, observation, HMIS, and collecting M&E data. Data analysis sessions cover quantitative analysis, qualitative analysis, statistics, data visualisation, and analysing M&E data. Research methods sessions prepare students for their project or thesis, covering M&E research methods, design, and data analysis. M&E utilisation sessions cover evidence-based decision-making, advocacy, communication, and using M&E findings for decision-making. Practical M&E projects provide hands-on experience designing M&E frameworks, conducting evaluations, and analysing data. Guest lectures from M&E practitioners, UNDP officials, NGO M&E managers, and international evaluation experts provide real-world insights. The programme culminates in a research project or thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's development sector, donor requirements, government accountability, and results-based management create high demand for qualified M&E professionals.
MKU offers affordable tuition at KES 65,000/semester with regular and digital modes.
Career opportunities across NGOs, government, UN agencies, private sector, and development organisations.
Programme provides versatile M&E skills applicable across health, education, development, and humanitarian sectors.

Against it

UoN total programme cost of KES 538,000 (~KES 269,000/year) is relatively expensive.
M&E positions are often project-funded and may not offer long-term job security.
Some employers may prefer practical M&E experience over academic qualifications.
M&E can be demanding, requiring travel to field sites and tight reporting deadlines.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public140k to 269k

140k at Maseno University269k at University of Nairobi

Private119k to 130k

119k at Mount Kenya University130k at Kabarak University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN 538,000/2=269,000/yr verified (psri.uonbi.ac.ke). MKU 119,100 verified. Maseno/Kabarak unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. UNDP supports M&E capacity building in Kenya. AfrEA supports evaluation in Africa. The programme's M&E focus attracts UNDP, donor, and evaluation funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
UNDP M&E Funding
AfrEA Evaluation Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate M&E studies at recognised universities.
UNDP M&E Funding
GrantKsh 300,000
UNDP supports M&E capacity building in Kenya, providing funding for postgraduate study in M&E.
AfrEA Evaluation Funding
FellowshipKsh 300,000
AfrEA supports evaluation in Africa, providing fellowships for postgraduate study in M&E and evaluation.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme accepts graduates from social sciences, development, health, education, statistics, and related fields. UoN offers full-time and part-time modes. Maseno offers part-time through eCampus. MKU offers regular and digital modes. Two-year programme with research project or thesis.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, M&E framework design, indicator development, evaluation design, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering M&E frameworks, evaluation methods, data analysis, and research methods, conducted at end of each semester.
Practical M&E Project
Practical30% of the mark
Assessment of practical M&E project, including framework design, data collection, analysis, evaluation, and M&E report writing.
Research Project or Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research project or thesis on an M&E topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi offers MA in M&E through its Institute of Population Studies and Research. Maseno University offers MA in M&E through its eCampus. Mount Kenya University offers MA in M&E. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate M&E training.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. UoN offers MA in M&E through its Institute of Population Studies and Research. Maseno offers MA in M&E through its eCampus. MKU offers MA in M&E. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate M&E training.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

M&E Officer
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Monitors and evaluates programmes, overseeing M&E systems, data collection, reporting, and supporting programme performance and learning.
M&E Manager
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages M&E functions in organisations, overseeing M&E strategy, systems, teams, and supporting evidence-based programme management.
Evaluation Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 650,000
Provides evaluation consultancy, overseeing evaluations, design, analysis, and supporting evidence-based programme assessment and improvement.
Research Officer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Conducts research for M&E, overseeing study design, data collection, analysis, and supporting evidence generation for programmes.
Programme Manager
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages development programmes, overseeing programme design, implementation, M&E, and supporting programme outcomes and impact.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches M&E in universities, conducting research and training future M&E professionals and development practitioners.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as M&E officers, M&E managers, evaluation consultants, and programme managers in NGOs, government, UN agencies, and development organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for M&E data analysis, survey analysis, quantitative analysis, and research data analysis.
NVivo
Software
Qualitative data analysis software for M&E research, interviews, focus groups, and qualitative data analysis.
KoboToolbox
Software
Data collection platform for M&E field research, surveys, monitoring data, and collecting M&E data.
DHIS2
Software
Health management information system for health M&E, routine data, indicators, and managing health monitoring data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

M&E is just about counting activities.
M&E involves rigorous framework design, indicator development, evaluation methods, data analysis, and evidence-based decision-making, far beyond counting activities.
Anyone can do M&E without training.
Effective M&E requires professional training in frameworks, evaluation design, methods, data analysis, and utilisation.
M&E is only for NGOs.
M&E skills are in demand across NGOs, government, UN agencies, private sector, and any organisation managing programmes and projects.
There is no demand for M&E professionals in Kenya.
Kenya's development sector, donor requirements, government accountability, and results-based management create high demand for qualified M&E professionals.
A master's in M&E is redundant after experience.
The master's provides advanced theoretical foundations, evaluation methods, research capability, and professional recognition that experience alone cannot provide.
M&E is just about reporting.
M&E involves framework design, evaluation, learning, accountability, evidence generation, and decision-making, not just reporting.