Monitoring is an indispensable operation within programming, management and policies assessment process. From an operative point of view, its main purpose is to follow on a continuous basis the implementation and delivery of an operational programme and changes in its external environment, in order to better understand and analyse outputs and results achieved and to recommend, if necessary, remedial actions for a better management and effectiveness of policies also by reprogramming actions.

Monitoring, with evaluation, has a growing role within public policies. The indications of its use is given either by the experience of international organizations and by the European Community that made it compulsory in different fields, first of all for Structural Funds.

Monitoring aims:

Assess and control the implementation of projects and programmes.

Highlight problems and difficulties and, on the other hand, find out success elements.

Increase transparency and public policies outputs dissemination.