How to Start or Transition to a Career in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning: Practical Tips

Whether you're new to the field or transitioning from another sector, here's a practical guide to help you navigate your way into Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and develop the skillset needed to succeed.

Career Options in MEL

These job titles may vary of course and also your career path may not be linear. This means you may skip roles (or may even go back to an entry level position after being in this phase before). With this said, here are the common positions you can expect to occupy at some point in the MEL field.

MEL Officer/Specialist

This is your entry-level position. I started out here. You'll be collecting data, conducting surveys, and helping to prepare reports. It's a great way to learn the ropes..

MEL Manager

As you gain experience, you might move up to managing M&E activities for entire projects or organisations. You'll be designing M&E frameworks, overseeing data collection, and presenting findings to stakeholders. I skipped this altogether and jumped straight to MEL consultant.

MEL Consultant

Many experienced MEL professionals go the freelance route, offering their expertise to various organisations on a project basis.

Data Analyst/Scientist

With the increasing emphasis on data-driven decision making, there's a growing demand for folks who can crunch numbers and extract insights (though to be honest, I outsource this skillset).

Research Coordinator

If you enjoy the academic side of things, you might find yourself coordinating research studies for universities or think tanks.

Learning Specialist

This role focuses on developing learning strategies, facilitating knowledge sharing, and ensuring that insights from M&E activities are used to improve organizational practices.

Knowledge Management Officer

You'll be responsible for capturing, organizing, and disseminating knowledge within an organisation, ensuring that lessons learned are accessible and applied.

Organisational Learning Consultant

In this role, you'll help organisations develop systems and cultures that promote continuous learning and improvement based on MEL findings.

Essential Skills for MEL

1. Ability to analyse data and interpret findings. Proficiency in statistical software like SPSS, Stata, or R is sometimes required, but not essential (I usually hire a statistician to engage in certain quantitative data analysis for me). This ability for analysis also extends to qualittaive data analysis.
2. Understanding of project management principles to ensure M&E activities are aligned with project goals. Especially as many M&E roles involve managing multiple projects or components simultaneously.
3. Strong written and verbal communication skills to effectively report findings and make recommendations is key. You would be amazed at how many persons cannot write for a non-technical audience. You should have the ability to write clear and concise reports, proposals, and presentations.
4. Precision and attention to detail in data collection, analysis, and reporting to ensure accuracy.
5. You'll need to be comfortable with mixed methods such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, and other data collection methods. Familiarity with statistical analysis is a big plus.
6. You should be able to think critically by looking at data objectively and draw meaningful conclusions is essential.
7. Depending on where you work (e.g., health, education, international development), you'll need to understand the nuances of that sector. Though most M&E practitioners are generalists (myself included)
8. Familiarity with traditional M&E methods, tools and approaches such as Logical Framework Approach (LFA), Theory of Change, and Results-Based Management (RBM).
9. As you advance in your career, consider learning about complexity-aware M&E methods. These approaches help in evaluating complex, dynamic systems where traditional linear models (mentioned at number 8 above, fall short.
10. It's also crucial to understand how to design and implement M&E systems that are sensitive to gender issues and cultural contexts. This skill is increasingly valued in international development and social impact projects.
11. For learning-focused roles, you'll need to be able to facilitate workshops, lead reflective sessions, and guide groups through learning processes. Facilitations skills are therefore paramount to have.
12. Understanding how to effectively capture, store, share and manage knowledge within an organisation is crucial for the learning aspect of MEL.
13. Adaptive management and being able to use MEL insights to inform real-time decision-making and programme adjustments is increasingly important in the field.
14. In MEL, you'll often be dealing with sensitive information and working with diverse stakeholders. High emotional intelligence helps you navigate complex interpersonal dynamics, provide constructive feedback, and handle challenging situations with empathy and professionalism. It's particularly crucial when conducting interviews, facilitating learning sessions, or presenting potentially disappointing evaluation results to stakeholders.

Practical Tips to Get Started

1. Start by getting eduated. Consider taking courses in M&E, research methods, or even pursuing a master's degree in M&E or a related field.
2. Volunteer or intern with NGOs, development agencies, or community projects to gain hands-on experience. Many organisations appreciate the extra help and you'll gain valuable insights.
3. Join M&E communities and forums like the American Evaluation Association (AEA) or LinkedIn groups focused on M&E. Networking can lead to mentorship opportunities and job leads.
4. Familiarise yourself with software such as Excel, SPSS, NVivoStata, or R.
5. Stay updated with the latest trends and methodologies in M&E by following blogs, attending webinars, and reading journals. Websites like BetterEvaluation and Ann-Murray Brown's M&E Academy are great resources.
6. Document your projects, data analysis, and reports. A strong portfolio on a website showcasing your M&E work can set you apart in job applications.
7. Consider specialising in a particular area (e.g., gender equity, climate change) to stand out in the job market. Though I am a generalist, gender and social inclusion are my thematic areas of expertise.

Transitioning from Another Field

If you're transitioning from another field, highlight transferable skills such as project management, data analysis, and report writing in your resume. Emphasise any experience with programme evaluation, even if it was in a different context. Tailoring your LinkedIn profile to reflect your M&E aspirations can also attract recruiters.

Final Thoughts

Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is an MEL career. Be patient, keep learning, and don't be afraid to start small. With persistence and the right skills, you'll be on your way to a rewarding career in no time!

Join the upcoming webinar for Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) professionals on 18 July 2024. As a bonus, you will also receive a list of places off the beaten path to find M&E jobs/consultancies.

REGISTRATION CLOSES TODAY, 15 JULY 2024 ????♀?

??Grab a spot before registration closes: https://lnkd.in/edf4ktdd