Oxfam GB’s approach to Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)
Oxfam GB is currently implementing a suite of new monitoring and evaluation processes that together enable us to assess the impact of our programmes, learn from our experiences and increase our accountability to different stakeholders.
Seven processes make up our new approach to MEL. Each process plays a different role in building up our programme knowledge and in using it to inform decision-making at different levels in the organisation.
At the heart of the MEL system is good programme monitoring, in which programme teams collaborate with partners and communities to collect high quality data against core programme indicators. This information is analysed during Monitoring Reviews: biannual events in which programme staff and partners reflect upon the information gathered through monitoring activities and decide what it means for their future work.
Monitoring Review guidelines (PDF 104KB)
Alongside Monitoring Reviews, other key ingredients of good programme monitoring are clear programme logic models, baseline data collection and clear indicators of change. An example of where this is brought together in a single report is in the monitoring framework for Oxfam’s Partnership Programme Agreement with the Department for International Development (DFID).
Measuring Change: Baseline report (PDF 12MB)
Oxfam Rough Guide to MEL (PDF 68KB)
Country Learning Reviews and Regional Learning Reviews provide similar opportunities for country and regional teams to meet with key stakeholders in order to review their roles and strategies within their countries and regions based on information coming out of Monitoring Reviews, evaluations, research reports, analyses of external trends etc. Country Learning Reviews happen on an annual basis, while Regional Learning Reviews happen every two years.
Country Learning Review guidelines (PDF 36KB)
Regional Learning Review guidelines (PDF 3.33MB)
Programme Evaluations will be undertaken of all programmes over £1M in accordance with our Programme Evaluation Policy, providing independent assessments of the results of our work and building a body of evaluative information that we can use to improve the quality of our programmes. Lessons from these evaluations will be summarised each year and made available on our website. Later in 2009 we hope to make all of our programme evaluations available to the public through our website. More in-depth programme evaluations or Impact Assessments will be carried out where baseline information is available.
Evaluation Policy (PDF 41KB)
Evaluation Guidelines (PDF 80KB)
Strategic evaluations – or cross-programme evaluations – are undertaken when we are keen to learn about a particular area of our work, such as Partnership or Education, to inform a key organisational policy or strategy. All strategic evaluations together with their management response are made available on the Oxfam GB website.
Education and Partnership strategic evaluations
Synthesis of Livelihoods Evaluations: 2006-2008 (PDF 2MB)
Finally, all this will be brought together during an organisational event called Oxfam Reflects. This will take place every three years and will bring together a wide range of stakeholders to consider what we have learnt through our monitoring and evaluation activities. This will give us the evidence we need to make informed choices about our future strategy.
