Creating a Digital Ecosystem to Improve Frontline Humanitarian Impact: Mercy Corps’ Approach to Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

Episode 25  |  49 minutes

Jonathan Jackson sits down with Mercy Corps’ Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team – Meri Ghorkhmazyan, Senior Director MEL, Alex Tran, Senior MEL Advisor and Hanna Camp, Senior Advisor, Technology for MEL. They discuss how MEL is the next generation of M&E and how it has fuelled program adaptation and higher level learning to improve frontline impact at Mercy Corps.

Some topics covered in this conversation include:

• The difference between M&E and MEL
• The value of a MEL policy and the challenges of disorganized MEL technology
• How standardizing on technology for MEL allows teams to maximize comprehensiveness of data as well as timely action
• The ins and outs of creating enterprise technology agreements and the cost savings made possible
• Implementing a MEL technology training program with support from the Cisco Foundation
• Creating continuous buy in along the journey of change management
• How streamlining technologies can boost professional development opportunities for MEL technology practitioners
• Empowering data practitioners to be able to make better decisions around program performance
• The challenge of finding and retaining technically skilled staff

Related Resources:

• Mercy Corps: https://www.mercycorps.org/
• Mercy Corps’ 10 year strategy: https://www.mercycorps.org/press-room/releases/pathway-to-possibility
• Mercy Corps’ Guide to Building a Digital Ecosystem for M&E at Scale: https://dimagi.com/blog/mercy-corps-guide-to-building-a-digital-ecosystem-for-me-at-scale/
• CommCare enterprise offering: https://www.dimagi.com/commcare/enterprise/