Organizational Learning

An effective monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system is an essential part of any social change strategy. A MEL system should define a desired future, monitor progress toward that future, and determine course corrections as needed. It’s tempting to think of a MEL system as something like the feedback system of a self-driving car: There’s a predefined destination, a roadmap for getting there, and mechanisms for detecting obstacles and taking corrective actions along the way. But that’s too simple. The role of a MEL system is not just to help keep a strategy on track toward predefined outcomes; it should also help define and redefine those outcomes and the pathways for reaching them based on sound evidence. A good MEL system does more than help navigate toward a destination using an established roadmap; it can modify both the map and the destination as it goes along.

We work with clients to develop MEL systems tailored to their organizational needs. In addition to developing policies and procedures for monitoring and evaluation, we provide workshops to educate staff and Board members on key concepts and help inculcate an organizational culture that values continuous learning.