Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
Our consortium has highly experienced specialist consultants in Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL). We have supported clients with the design and development of institutional MEL frameworks, as well implemented numerous MEL assessments across a wide range of sustainability-related sectors. Our rigorous approach to MEL is built upon best-practice globally recognized standards, providing both formative and summative assessment approaches that support organizational decision-making and adaptive management.
Our consultants are well versed in a range of MEL analytical approaches and techniques, including OECD-DAC criteria1 and the FCDO’s 4E’s Value for Money Framework2, as well as a range of data collection mechanisms3 and analytical tools, including Contribution Analysis, Strength of Evidence Assessments, Sustainability and Replicability Analysis and other tools to assess the Pathways and their impactfulness to achieving an organisations’ Theory of Change (ToC).
Clients we have supported with targeted MEL support are listed below. If your organization would like MEL support, or if you would like more information regarding our expertise and experience, please contact: info@sustainablesolutions.consulting
- The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development – Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC) valuation criteria are a set of six standards for assessing development cooperation interventions, including Relevance, Coherence, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Impact and Sustainability.
- The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) 4 E’s Value for Money (VfM) framework is a widely used conceptual model for assessing how well resources are used to achieve desired outcomes. Economy focuses on acquiring inputs at the lowest possible cost, while Efficiency looks at how well resources are converted into outputs. Effectiveness examines the quality of the results produced, and Equity evaluates the fairness of the distribution of those results.
- Data collection mechanisms are varied and selected based on the needs of the client. SSIC consultants are highly trained in both quantitative data collection—including secondary assessment of institutional key performance indicators (KPI’s) and associated quantitative metrics as well as primary assessment through remote or in-person surveys utilizing quantitative criteria against evaluation questions (EQ’s)—and qualitative data collection—including secondary data gleaning from relevant workplans, reports, case studies and associated documentation, and the collection of primary data through key informant interviews (KII’s), focus group discussions (FGDs), participatory observation etc., codified through MAXQDA software where appropriate for analysis.