Monitoring is a process that systematically & regularly checks if your program activities (nutritional information and education and other extension package programs) are being carried out as planned. Information /data/ for monitoring and evaluation of nutritional status is collected through community diagnosis, follow-up visit, observation during a home visit and by ABCD nutritional assessment techniques /as you have learnt in the previous session.

Monitoring: Involves in counting what we are doing. Routinely looking at the quality of our services (nutritional information and education).

Monitoring addresses the following questions:

• To what extent are planned activities realised?.
  Ex. Exclusive breastfeeding practices after the information are delivered to lactating mothers and supplementary food practices at six months of age for infants after the information is given to lactating mothers.
• Are we making progress towards achieving our objectives?.
• What services are provided?.
• To whom, when, how often, for how long, in what context?.

The role of monitoring:

• Monitoring has a role in that it helps for early correction of mistakes or wrongs.
• In nutrition, it helps to know if a malnourished child is getting good, in satisfactory progress or deteriorating.
• Monitoring has a role in determining the quality of the services provided and the quality of life.

Who should monitor?:

• Active monitoring depends on project personnel at all levels.
  
• Data for monitoring is collected as part of the regular project implementation activities, home visits, follow-up visit, routine activities, planed for nutritional assessment programs (campaigns).
  

When does monitoring begin?:

Monitoring systems should be planned in conjunction with overall program design and instituted at the beginning of the programs life. Client response is monitored through:

• Observation of the action.
• Discussion.
• By interviewing the clients.