Monitoring and Evaluation Is Not an Adversarial Function… It Is a Partnership for Better Humanitarian Quality
To United Nations agencies, international and local organizations, humanitarian practitioners, project teams, MEAL professionals, donors, and resource mobilization actors.
Based on field practice and humanitarian experience, I believe there is an important misconception that needs to be corrected in many institutional training materials and operational practices concerning the relationship between Monitoring and Evaluation staff and project implementation teams.
A Monitoring and Evaluation Officer is not an enemy, not an opponent, and not a judge over the implementation team. Likewise, project teams should not feel that they are constantly in a defensive position when engaging with MEAL staff. The right relationship should be built on partnership, professional respect, openness, and a shared commitment to improving performance and the quality of services delivered to affected communities.