INTRAC has built a strong reputation in the sector for our expertise in monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL). We have been providing MEL support to civil society organisations (CSOs) and programmes since 1991. Today, we do this through a dedicated team of MEL consultants on staff, as well as experienced independent consultants in our network.
INTRAC’s vision is to help civil society actors, organisations and movements across the world to develop, engage with others and do what they want to do, better. The processes of monitoring, evaluation, and learning are all crucial to the development of thriving CSOs that make a real difference to people, and contribute to delivering just, equitable, and sustainable societies for all. We work on MEL through our consultancy, our training programme, and our publications.
Our approach to MEL is rooted in our organisational values, with a focus on participatory and user-focussed approaches that result in genuine learning and practical benefits for people and organisations. Since 2022, we have been challenging ourselves and others to ‘decolonise’ MEL thinking and practice through our work.
Our MEL consultancy services
INTRAC has a range of focuses within the MEL sphere, organised here within three broad categories. In all our work, we aim to practice what we call ethical and values-driven consultancy.
Monitoring and evaluation systems
Effective MEL systems should help organisations in measuring, documenting, and enhancing the impact they have through the work they do. INTRAC’s MEL consultants can assist with the design, development and implementation of appropriate and effective MEL systems whether at organisational, country, programme or portfolio level. This also includes MEL framework design, Theory of Change (ToC) development and design of learning agendas.
Evaluations, reviews, and impact assessments
Our evaluation work covers impact assessment and evaluations, including baselines and strategic/ programmatic reviews, across a range of sectors and thematic areas, and including large, complex, multi-country civil society programmes. We prioritise utilisation-focussed, participatory and ethical evaluation approaches that ensure results are useful and used for learning and accountability, including to programme participants. We are committed to ensuring evaluations contribute to practical and positive change.
Learning partnerships
INTRAC has specialist experience in supporting programmes in the role of ‘critical friend’ or learning partner. In this capacity, we can work alongside you to develop learning agendas and draw out the key lessons arising from your activities helping to document and disseminate these in ways that inform and enhance current and future programme design and impact.
Our MEL training
INTRAC runs two flagship open training courses on MEL:
- Monitoring, evaluation and learning is a foundational course that takes place over seven weeks.
- Advanced Monitoring and evaluation systems (AMES) is for more experienced MEL practitioners, focuses on building/ strengthening MEL systems specifically for organisations and complex programmes, and lasts for four weeks.
We can also deliver bespoke MEL training and mentoring that is tailored to your needs, either as a discrete project or as part of a larger programme of support.
Our MEL research and publications
We have published a wide range of practical publications related to MEL topics and rooted in the experience of our staff and network members. These include toolkits, papers, blogs, and blog series and cover topics such as complex M&E systems, various M&E methods, and special topics like M&E of advocacy, or the role of young people in evaluations. These are available in our resource library.
The M&E Universe
INTRAC’s flagship resource, the M&E Universe is designed to support development practitioners involved in monitoring and evaluation. It consists of over 100 short papers on different subjects related to M&E, with practical examples from our experience, and links to other resources we have found useful. You can visit the Universe directly here or find out more on its project page.