MERI Toolkit

MERI requirements for Caring for our Country funded projects

Proponents who have received Caring for our Country funding for projects of more than $80 000 are required to develop a program logic and full MERI plan.

The Guidelines for developing a MERI plan page will guide you through the development of your MERI plan and includes a MERI plan template and attachments for download.

Proponents who have received Caring for our Country funding for projects valued at $80 000 or less are required to develop a program logic.

Resources for project management

The monitoring, evaluation, reporting and improvement (MERI) toolkit provides project managers with tools and guidelines to assist in measuring and reporting on outcomes from Caring for our Country investment.

MERI toolkit resources have been developed to assist project management throughout the following phases of your project:

1	The Caring for our Country Business Plan provides targets to help design your project. Caring for our Country Business Plan
2	This guide outlines a step-by-step process for developing program logic in the context of Natural Resource Management (NRM). Developing and using program logic in natural resource management: user guide
3	MERI plan resources help you monitor your performance and achieve success. Project MERI plan template Guidelines for developing a MERI plan Examples of project MERI plans Frequently asked questions about MERI plans
4	Progress and financial templates help you report to the Australian Government. Projects are required to report twice yearly using the progress reporting template. Progress reporting template (Appendix 2 of the Caring for our Country MERI Strategy ). Financial reporting template (XLS - 76 KB)

How often is a project expected to report and what does it report?

Projects are required to report twice yearly using the progress reporting template (Caring for our Country MERI strategy: Appendix 2). The progress report has five elements:

1	Overview of MERI plan implementation Provide an overview on the effectiveness and efficiency with which the MERI plan is monitoring and reporting project impacts and achievements. How the MERI plan requirements have been communicated to staff implementing the project. This will affect the value of the evaluation of progress towards achieving the immediate and intermediate outcomes and improvements proposed for the project based on the lessons learned. An annual review will help maintain the MERI plan as an effective and efficient tool.
2	Lessons learned Provides an evaluation of the project's impact and achievements (including unanticipated outcomes) and identified improvements that could/ should be made to the projects delivery/ methodology/ investment portfolio.
3	Improvements Summarises how the improvements will be implemented and included in the program logic and MERI plan.
4	Project monitoring and reporting The reporting matrix for recording progress in delivering against the target/s and objectives identified in the project deed.
5	Financial reporting Provides a pre-populated reporting template to record expenditure against the deed budget. Financial reporting template (XLS - 76 KB)

Other resources

• The Caring for our Country MERI strategy - this provides a broad context for monitoring and evaluation.
• Natural Resource Management Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement Framework - this provides the conceptual framework for monitoring and evaluation.