Alastair Spray

Alastair is an INTRAC consultant primarily working in the area od monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL). He joined INTRAC in November 2020. He holds an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge and a joint honours in Spanish and International Relations from Aberdeen University. His thesis was an impact assessment of a 2013 Progressio-ICS programme he had volunteered on in El Salvador. This piece of work was Alastair’s first foray into the world of M&E and introduced him to data gathering and analysis techniques, ethical and practical debates on MEL.

Following this introduction to M&E Alastair then experienced the other end of the spectrum via a six month internship at the World Health Organisation headquarters in Geneva. Alastair worked in the WHO Evaluation Office, contributing to internal evaluations and coordinating a large external evaluation of the WHO conducted by the Multilateral Organisation Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN).

Before joining INTRAC, Alastair coordinated the Community Apprentice programme for the UK charity Envision. This programme supports youth from some of London’s most disadvantaged areas to develop confidence and employability skills through social action and professional mentorship.

Alastair has provided project consultancy, coordination and data analysis on a number of programmes with INTRAC, including The Development Alternative and six reviews for the Independent Commission for Aid Impact. Alastair led the development of a M&E framework for Marta Centrs and helped develop INTRAC’s theory of change. Alastair’s most recent and ongoing consultancies include:

• Led an after action review of an innovative advocacy project for a client working in global health lobbying and advocacy.
• Support to a client to develop an outcome map M&E approach to their regional programmes.
• Leading research into gender equality and social inclusion outcomes for a global youth leadership and skills programme.
• Development and delivery of a training of trainers for youth led evaluation of a global programme supporting youth to develop skills and challenge climate change.
• Ongoing work on most significant change analysis for a feminist evaluation of a global gender justice and climate solutions network.

Alastair is interested in learning about new, innovative and creative methodologies that can be applied to MEL work and enjoys facilitating the sharing of best practices and learning within the sector through his work as co-chair of the Bond MEL group.

Alastair is keen to explore how INTRAC can further advance the decolonisation of consultancy work and take a leading role in shifting power dynamics. He is particularly focused on promoting more diverse, locally driven, participatory, and learning-centered approaches to MEL.