Of course there is no doubt that capacity is lacking across Africa and the world overall in M&E generally not just for Agricultural projects or programs. But it is partly because many of us do not want to learn on our own using the vast programmes on the internet. Just like Monitoring a lot of literature exists on evaluation, for example many of us should interest ourselves to the writings of Michael Quin Patton - the founder of Utilization-focused evaluation, you will be amazed, but also his debates on systems versus frameworks in measuring performance. And, finally, read literature from OECD/DAC and tweak it to your area of intervention.
However, for me it is important to contextualize the debate to provoke the need to document learning from the agriculture projects so as to address the knowledge gap and to be able to replicate the processed across the world.
Looking at the responses, I am not sure we are addressing the questions raised by ERIASAFU LUBOWA. First and foremost gender responsiveness is the like the highest level in the gender continuum.It has attributes or traits (if you like) that must be integrated in the MEAL cycle and the contraints and their solutions should be contextual like Daniel Ticehurst has deliberated it may not one size fits it all , depending on the approach that MEAL team chooses to use not methods.
Here is my take on how to make the MEAL system gender-responsive,
For any system to be gender-responsive it must ascertain the following:
Inclusivity and intersectionality should be factored in from the predesign to design to implementation to closure
The principle of representations- Focus should be in using the feminist MEAL approach so that processes are contributed into by both genders. The decision-making functions (parliaments, company boards, union leadership, etc.) are important indicators for women’s and men’s access to voice and power. However, it is not enough to simply count women and men. It is equally important to consider the actual outcomes of decisions taken by decision-making organs and their effects on gender equality
The principle of Participation has to be intentional to the design team at the outset: Achieving higher participation of underrepresented or disadvantaged sex in a given activity (training course, discussion of a new policy, etc.) is always desirable. Nonetheless, a project is not necessarily gender-responsive or contributing to gender equality just because a high rate of women has taken part in its activities
Finally focused should on be Equal power relations involves addressing power relations between (or within) different groups. This means evaluators need to acquire a full understanding of the context in which any changes have taken place. It also means evaluations need to be conducted in a way that is sensitive to the empowerment of disadvantaged groups.
With the above aspects addressed the MEAL team should integrate the above concepts in their MEAL systems in the following ways:
Integrate all the gender-responsive concepts into the MEAL System for instance
Conduct a gender-responsive situation analysis
The MEAL plan has to be gender-responsive
Use Mixed Methods that are gender-responsive
Use tools that are gender-responsive
Finally, the MEAL Eco-system should be respectful, participatory, reflective, transparent, and accountable across the agricultural and or food systems value chain.
Francis ODADA
Managing Director Fodman International LtdOf course there is no doubt that capacity is lacking across Africa and the world overall in M&E generally not just for Agricultural projects or programs. But it is partly because many of us do not want to learn on our own using the vast programmes on the internet. Just like Monitoring a lot of literature exists on evaluation, for example many of us should interest ourselves to the writings of Michael Quin Patton - the founder of Utilization-focused evaluation, you will be amazed, but also his debates on systems versus frameworks in measuring performance. And, finally, read literature from OECD/DAC and tweak it to your area of intervention.
However, for me it is important to contextualize the debate to provoke the need to document learning from the agriculture projects so as to address the knowledge gap and to be able to replicate the processed across the world.
Many thanks
Francis