Colombia's National Results-BasedManagement and Evaluation System (SINERGIA) is one of LatinAmerica's outstanding results-based monitoring andevaluation initiatives. With 15 years of progressivedevelopment, SINERGIA has endured the countries'institutional, political, and fiscal problems and hasattained one of the highest levels of development andcustomization in Latin America. Based on its accomplishmentsit has been held up as an example by multilateralorganizations, donor agencies, and other governments. Thispaper examines the experience of institutionalizingColombia's monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system,from the perspective of a former SINERGIA manager: ManuelFernando Castro, Director of Public Policy Evaluation, andDepartment of National Planning. This study is meant tocomplement previous studies by other authors with aninsider's account, description, and analysis of theobstacles encountered and the results obtained. Likewise, itpresents recommendations on how to ensure furtherinstitutionalization and identifies several lessons thatmight be of interest to professionals who are developingevaluation systems in other countries.