Professional M&E is based on hard facts: data, information, knowledge and understanding.
What is data?
Data is a collection of objective facts — numbers, words, images, measurements, observations. Data is raw, unorganised and lacks context. To be useful, it needs to be turned into information.
What is information?
Information is data that has meaning and purpose. It can help us understand what is happening. The noises you hear are data; understanding that they come from a running car engine is information.
What is knowledge?
Information can serve to create knowledge. Knowledge can instruct how to do something. And knowledge can be turned into understanding that explains why something is happening.
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