The focus of this query is institutional arrangements for Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) process monitoring. Most of the literature found for this query emphasises that instead of concentrating all activities in a single body, a wide set of actors should be involved, each having their own role. Within the government, for example, the central ministries of finance and planning may be responsible for designing the monitoring and evaluation strategy, monitoring its implementation, using the results, and providing data on expenditures; the sectoral ministries will usually provide data on outputs; the central statistical agency will be responsible for collecting of data from households and individuals and external research centres, universities, and NGOs, will often also collect and analyse information. It is generally agreed that, from the outset, a clear and coherent framework for this institutional arrangement should be developed. In addition, a well-resourced and well-placed unit, which can take ultimate responsibility for the work, is necessary for any monitoring system to be effective.
