Reflections on making MEL accessible to faith actors

There is an increasing interest in and appreciation of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) in the humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding (HDP) sector. However, MEL practices in the HDP sectors have historically been dominated by the epistemologies and practices of global north organizations. This has, in many cases, led to a divergence between MEL expectations of international actors and the capacities and priorities of local implementing partners. Research has shown that this gap is even wider for local faith actors (LFA) because many international actors tend to have little awareness or appreciation of faith sensitive approaches.
LFA and international actors (who may either be secular themselves or working within secular frameworks) often take different approaches to measuring success and ways of knowing and learning, use different terminologies, and have conflicting priorities, objectives, goals, and priorities for MEL. This divergence can lead to frustrations and tensions and is often a significant barrier to meaningful collaboration. However, efforts are underway to prioritize local knowledge and partner with local organizations to make MEL accessible and faith sensitive. In this session we will explore strategies to make MEL more inclusive and learn about how global north institutions can support locally led MEL and prioritize local knowledge, partners, and perspectives.