Harnessing the power of monitoring and evaluation for equitable resilience
The working group on ‘Harnessing the Power of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) for Equitable Resilience’ recognized that often project design and M&E within development work are primarily driven by funder requirements. This limits the involvement and capacity of project beneficiaries, hindering their say in implementation and evaluation. The conventional approach to M&E, as currently practised, falls short in contributing to long-term sustainability and equitable resilience, despite its substantial potential. This working group, consisting of six practitioner-researchers from across South Africa, provided a unique space for reflection and co-creation. By synthesising ‘voices from practice’, the group aimed to redefine how M&E practitioners can utilise their methods to actively contribute to building equity and resilience, emphasising the importance of incorporating beneficiary perspectives and needs.
Working group members
- Karen Kotschy, Association for Water and Rural Development and Environmental Learning Research Centre, Rhodes University
- Ancois de Villiers, Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University and Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, Leiden University
- Paul Mvulane, Environmental Learning Research Centre, Rhodes University
- Sue Soal, Independent facilitator, evaluator, and organisational process consultant
- Glenda Raven, Independent consultant, Learning for Change
- Michelle Hiestermann, Water Research Commission, now at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
