Thank you so much for your useful contribution. They are very nice discussions and reflect the merits and dismerits of MEAL systems. I know you have coverd most of the ideas and experiences. Just a few points need to be considered based on our practical experience:
1. There a need for developing a culture of understanding that MEAL is designed for supporting better decision making based on evidence not for spying or mistakes finder.
2. MEAL and program need to work together not in isolation, and MEAL activities findings should be used for better improvements and decision making to meet the needs and gap on the grounds not as Emma Nthandose Gausi puts it 'In most projects/programs the M&E process has been relegated to a data collection and processing ONLY activity. And this data/information is also always done to satisfy donor requirements. Learning in M&E should be prioritised throughout the project cycle.' https://www.evalforward.org/members/emma-gausi
3. For getting reliable and accurate feedback from stakeholders in the communities like farmers or any other, 1. sharing clear information about everything we do in our interventions, ( information needed like project objective, duration, criteria of selection, benefits and change that communities will get, 2. real participation and involvement of the targeted people from the design to closing of our projects.
4. Increase the advocacy of humanitarian values, principles, and accountability principles so the stakeholders would participate in changing /adapting the local policies and understandibg to enhance best quality and practice, Cooperation and acceptance.
RE: A lack of learning in the monitoring and evaluation of agriculture projects
Dear all
Thank you so much for your useful contribution. They are very nice discussions and reflect the merits and dismerits of MEAL systems. I know you have coverd most of the ideas and experiences. Just a few points need to be considered based on our practical experience:
1. There a need for developing a culture of understanding that MEAL is designed for supporting better decision making based on evidence not for spying or mistakes finder.
2. MEAL and program need to work together not in isolation, and MEAL activities findings should be used for better improvements and decision making to meet the needs and gap on the grounds not as Emma Nthandose Gausi puts it 'In most projects/programs the M&E process has been relegated to a data collection and processing ONLY activity. And this data/information is also always done to satisfy donor requirements. Learning in M&E should be prioritised throughout the project cycle.' https://www.evalforward.org/members/emma-gausi
3. For getting reliable and accurate feedback from stakeholders in the communities like farmers or any other, 1. sharing clear information about everything we do in our interventions, ( information needed like project objective, duration, criteria of selection, benefits and change that communities will get, 2. real participation and involvement of the targeted people from the design to closing of our projects.
4. Increase the advocacy of humanitarian values, principles, and accountability principles so the stakeholders would participate in changing /adapting the local policies and understandibg to enhance best quality and practice, Cooperation and acceptance.
Thanks