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Understanding MEAL

The article discusses the concepts of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) within development contexts, emphasizing their importance in ensuring effective project implementation and informed decision-making. It outlines the roles of each component, highlighting how they interconnect to enhance program quality and adapt to changing circumstances. The piece also underscores the significance of accountability and learning in refining development strategies and improving outcomes for stakeholders.

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7 views

Understanding MEAL

The article discusses the concepts of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) within development contexts, emphasizing their importance in ensuring effective project implementation and informed decision-making. It outlines the roles of each component, highlighting how they interconnect to enhance program quality and adapt to changing circumstances. The piece also underscores the significance of accountability and learning in refining development strategies and improving outcomes for stakeholders.

Uploaded by

dewmini
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© © All Rights Reserved
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MEAL: Understanding monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning


(MEAL) in development contexts

Article · January 2020

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MEAL: Understanding monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) in
development contexts
Ajmal Elahi
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/meal-understanding-monitoring-evaluation-learning-contexts-
elahi/

Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) is the backbone of any development intervention—it ensures
high-quality implementation, provides timely information for informed management decisions, and
measures contributions to outcomes and impacts. M&E and MEAL are often used
interchangeably depending on contexts and programme needs. Over time, the M&E moniker has
been augmented to include accountability and learning. Most development agencies, therefore,
began using monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) in place of M&E. This
article will briefly explain these terminologies while commenting on their differences and
interchangeability.
Monitoring is a continuous process used to keep project activities/progress on track, identify day-
to-day issues through process monitoring, and provide timely information to management and
stakeholders for informed decision-making and course-correction.
Evaluation is a process for ensuring and assessing the effectiveness, relevance, efficiency,
impact and sustainability of interventions. It is performed periodically and its scope differs from
case to case—it can be formative or summative. Evaluation may be specific to a particular project
or meta-evaluation for complex programmes covering multiple themes and sectors. When this is
the case, its scope, again, differs from context to context, e.g., it is done in a planned manner or
based on immediate needs identified through process monitoring, urgent changes in political
situations/contexts, and sudden disasters.
Accountability is a key feature that makes all concerned programme/project persons
accountable. It gives power to beneficiaries, donors, clients and other relevant stakeholders to
hold implementing agencies accountable for their interventions, actions, policies and
priorities. Accountability mechanisms include complaint-handling mechanisms and feedback
practices, especially to women, persons with disabilities, minorities, transgender persons, and
other marginalised communities.
Learning is a key success factor for refining programming by adding value for improvement,
revising strategies, and updating plans and frameworks based on key lessons learnt, findings and
recommendations. Learning primarily contributes to generating knowledge products,
disseminating information, and helping both internal and external programme/project
stakeholders use adaptive programming.
Linking MEAL components: All of these components are critical and linked with one another.
Each component plays a vital role and contributes to other components by providing input and
feedback for improvement. All MEAL components are crosscutting and crucial to ensuring quality
standards at every stage of programme/project cycle management.
Baseline/pre-evaluation data helps design and frame programme interventions at the planning
and design stage. This provides sufficient input for defining theories of change and results
frameworks, for developing key performance indicators, and setting baseline figures and data
collection methods.
Day-to-day monitoring exercises through desk and field-based monitoring during programme
interventions provide regular insights into the timely accomplishment of interventions, partners’
performance and work quality, and help timely and informed decision-making.
Periodic evaluation and situational/context analysis help to make necessary adjustments to
adaptive programming based on evaluation findings, stakeholder suggestions, lessons learnt, and
changes in political contexts and needs.
Accountability is a core value of programmes/projects and is essential to ensure at all levels,
including management, staff, beneficiaries, donors and other relevant stakeholders.
Accountability management practices such as the use of functional complaint-handling systems
provide timely input for course correction, design change, and, where required, staff changes,
especially where it is found that ethical standards and values are not being maintained.
Accountability mechanisms provide updates to beneficiaries, donors and other key stakeholders
to help make informed management decisions and necessary course corrections, thereby
contributing to future programming.
Each component of MEAL contributes to learning. It is built upon all other components and
provides high-level information/knowledge to wider stakeholders regarding overall
programme/project improvements, future design, and strategy changes. Monitoring provides
data, identifies gaps and suggests actions for course correction. Evaluation highlights broader
issues, captures learning and contributes to broader programme changes while suggesting
strategy revisions where required. Accountability provides important aspects identified through
suitable mechanisms and facilitates adaptive programming for the future.
AAYAN Management Solutions: Visit www.ayansolutions.com for further updates on
monitoring and evaluation.
Information sources consulted:
Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI). Undated. Module 1: Introducing MEAL methodology.
Monitoring and evaluation for accountability and learning (MEAL) for mid-career researchers. Islamabad:
SDPI. https://www.sdpi.org/cld/Presentations/Module%201%20-
%20Understanding%20MEAL%20Methdology.pdf.
Oxfam. Undated. A quick guide to monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning in fragile contexts.
Nairobi: Oxfam. https://oxfamilibrary.openrepository.com/bitstream/handle/10546/297134/ml-wws-meal-
fragile-contexts-190713-en.pdf;jsessionid=6D6166EDED74141D423782EA824245E6?sequence=1

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