Measuring the Outcomes of SEI’s work: the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Communication (PMEC) System

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) implemented the web-based Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Communication (PMEC) system in 2010 to systematically track project outcomes. Based on the International Development Research Centre’s Outcome Mapping methodology, PMEC shifts focus from activities to the influence on 'boundary partners'—specific people and organizations the project aims to affect. The system integrates project planning, budget management, and communications, requiring all SEI projects to use it for monitoring progress via 'progress markers' and 'journals'. For projects with budgets exceeding 200,000 SEK, an outcome evaluation of specific indicators is mandatory. PMEC also feeds into SEI's organizational learning by tracking contributions to six key performance areas and four institutional themes, ultimately informing reports for funders like the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the SEI Board.

• The PMEC system is a custom-designed, web-based tool implemented in 2010 that adapts the International Development Research Centre’s Outcome Mapping methodology to integrate with SEI's budget and communication systems.
• A central component of the PMEC approach is the identification of 'boundary partners', defined as the people and organizations within a project's sphere of interest that SEI is positioned to influence or build a relationship of mutual influence with.
• Project monitoring in PMEC utilizes 'progress markers' categorized by the level of change—'expect to see', 'like to see', and 'love to see'—and 'journals' to track observed changes in boundary partners, enabling adaptive project management.
• SEI mandates different evaluation requirements based on project size; while all projects undergo an internal final evaluation, those with budgets over 200,000 SEK must also conduct an outcome evaluation of indicators identified at the start.
• PMEC supports organizational learning and external reporting by tracking contributions to four institutional themes (Managing Environmental Systems, Reducing Climate Risk, Transforming Governance, and Rethinking Development) and six key performance areas, providing data for reports to the SEI Board and funders such as the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2013). Measuring the Outcomes of SEI’s work: the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Communication (PMEC) System. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-FS-2013-PMEC.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Measuring the Outcomes of SEI’s work: the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Communication (PMEC) System. 2013. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-FS-2013-PMEC.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Measuring the Outcomes of SEI’s work: the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Communication (PMEC) System |date=2013 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-FS-2013-PMEC.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2013measuring, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Measuring the Outcomes of SEI’s work: the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Communication (PMEC) System}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2013}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-FS-2013-PMEC.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }