CMI strives for transparency and accountability of its activities to its partners and donors. CMI's local partners are crucial in ensuring that local conditions and needs and cultural aspects are properly taken into account. The majority of CMI's budget comes from government and other public sources that require accountable project management systems.

CMI has adopted a Results-Based Management approach, whereby any given project's result chain is clearly established, and progress towards achieving them is systematically monitored. CMI is also in the process of setting up a comprehensive internal Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) process that facilitates internal learning at the level of both projects and the development of CMI's programmatic portfolio in general. CMI's capacity was strengthened in 2012 by the recruiting of PME Manager.

In addition to continuous monitoring and internal review of activities, CMI commissions external evaluations of its activities. For instance, in November 2010, experts from the University of Helsinki and the Finnish Technological Research Center carried out a mid-term evaluation of the 'Governance out of a Box' project in Liberia: http://www.vtt.fi/inf/pdf/workingpapers/2011/W159.pdf.

We wish also to look beyond our own processes and engage in innovative development of tools and best practices. CMI is a member of a research consortium — 'Phoenix' — that aims to improve evaluation methodologies in conflict prevention, mediation, crisis management and peacebuilding.