A Framework for Balancing Design, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (D-MERL) Efforts in Development Programs
The Balanced Design, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (BalanceD-MERL) consortium provides support and technical assistance to programs to enhance their design, monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (D-MERL) activities.
This presentation, which was given at the American Evaluation Association’s annual conference held in Atlanta, Georgia in October 2016, discussed solutions for organizations struggling with structuring and integrating design, monitoring, evaluation and research activities with strategic management processes that are meant to utilize evidence gathered for management decision-making and organizational learning. In addition, please find attached a short-version of the BalanceD-MERL maturity matrix, a tool which describes the four principles (relevant, right-sized, trustworthy, responsible) of BalanceD-MERL across four levels of maturity (unbalanced, emergent, balanced and sustained).
Disclaimer
This article is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of WDI and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
Acknowledgement
This article was produced by the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan in collaboration with World Vision under the BalanceD-MERL Program, Cooperative Agreement Number AID-OAA-A-15-00061, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.