What is the National Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy (NIMES)?

In 2003, the Cabinet of the Government of Uganda approved a coordination framework to make sure that all Government programmes work in a rational and synchronized manner.  Under this coordination umbrella, a National Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy (NIMES) was developed.  NIMES is a coordination framework that is intended to improve the monitoring and evaluation of all Government policies and programmes. NIMES is not a new monitoring and evaluation system - it is a coordination mechanism that will cover all existing M & E systems from a country-wide, sector-wide and local government perspective.

NIMES Objectives

NIMES will encourage all Government institutions and individuals to use information for evidence-based decision-making and planning.  It has four specific objectives: 1.       To assist key stakeholders to define their information needs 2.       To help to coordinate information systems to make sure that they can provide the information that key stakeholders need 3.       To make sure that adequate information is available in a timely manner to inform national policy frameworks such as the PEAP 4.       To build the M & E capacity in Uganda

Nimes is hot news! the National Intergarted Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy (NIMES)

Nimes is a governmental strategy for coordinating and harmonising the various and multiple monitoring and evaluation (M&E) efforts done by Government in relation to its projects and programmes. Nimes has the general objective of streamlining and strengthening existing M&E systems aspiring to provide legible and holistic information from and for districts, sectors and government. Ultimately, Nimes enhances the foundation for evidence-based policymaking and result orientated management and is therefore instrumental in to the efficient implementation of the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP).  

The process leading to Nimes started in 2001 and was based on the recognition that there was no central node compiling and coordinating the vast knowledge deriving from the multiple M&E activities undertaken in relation to the various governmental programmes - which had been growing substantially in terms of number since the mid 1980s. Hence, the need for a centralised system to coordinate and keep track of the achievements, failures and lessons, i.e. knowledge in general, of the activities under the various sector ministries. The intention has never been to initiate on a new bold new governmental programme, but rather coordinate and systematise already existing M&E procedures, enabling a pool of information both implementers and policymakers can draw on in their work to promote a coherent and harmonised approach. In 2003 the Government prepared the Nimes strategy, and it is now - in the recent revised PEAP - recognised as a government-wide strategy to monitor, evaluate and feed information into the implementation of PEAP.  Though being a governmental-wide strategy, Office of the Prime Minster (OPM) has been designated with the development, implementation and dissemination of Nimes - reflecting the overall governmental mandate of OPM, which is to ensure efficient and effective implementation of Government policies and programmes. OPM's Department of Coordination and Monitoring functions as the Nimes secretariat. As the apex body of Nimes, OPM represents the institution to which actors, external and internal to the state, should relate to in policy matters on Governmental level.  There are several important aspects of Nimes. The strategy provides a framework for harmonising the existing M&E systems, which will reduce duplication of effort og Government activities and promote aid efficiency. It will contribute to synergy and lessons learned nation-wide as the information coordinated in the Nimes framework ultimately will feed back to where it derived from, so that implied stakeholders might draw on each others' lessons. The empirical dialogue between various stakeholders will provide relevant information for policymaking. Ultimately, the framework provided by Nimes is of paramount importance for the successful implementation of PEAP as spelled out in the Annual Policy Action Matrix. This matrix intendeds to be flexible and adjustable to the empirical realities. Reliable and holistic information is paramount for the flexibility and responsiveness of the matrix. Thus, and to ensure result based management, there is a need for a comprehensive interplay between policies, plans and empirical realities.  Uniform data, referring to both the production and dissemination of data, will strengthen the information flow between stakeholders and enable systemised feedback on governmental activities and policies' effects. As this framework addresses data collection and use on several levels - government, sectors, and districts - it will provide a stronger coherence between the demand and supply side of governmental activities.