MERL in the Time of COVID-19: Four Case Studies
Accord Network organizations are facing many new challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has required rapid adaptation in many areas, including in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL).
by caremin
Abstract
Accord Network organizations are facing many new challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has required rapid adaptation in many areas, including in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL). In this paper, four case studies of Christ-centered NGOs are presented to provide a glimpse into how different organizations are adapting their MERL approaches and utilizing their internal MERL resources in new ways. The authors then reflect on these case studies and compare the approaches taken with emerging best practices from the broader international relief and development sector. In addition, the authors share guidance on how Christ-centered organizations should adapt MERL approaches according to good principles in a broader effort to discern God’s leading in the midst of challenging external circumstances, internal organizational constraints and opportunities, and an unknown future.
Authors
Compiled and Edited by Rodney Green, Nathan Mallonee, and Kristen Check
With Contributions from Rebecca Mentzer, Dr. Lincoln Lau, Kendall Wilson, Allan Kakinda, Peter Ndungu, and Dr. Subodh Kumar
Introduction
In April 2020, the Accord Research Alliance (ARA) hosted two webinars with Accord members to discuss and learn about monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The information gathered from the two webinars provides a good overview of the institutional context and background to the four case studies presented in this paper.
The first webinar was facilitated as an open platform where participants from the ARA community shared how COVID-19 was affecting their monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) practices within their organizations, and how they were adapting to meet the challenges and changes required by their pandemic response. There were over fifty attendees, representing organizations such as Food for the Hungry, HOPE International, Life Water, Living Water International, Hope Walks, Water Mission, Compassion International, CURE International, Partners Worldwide, Eido Research, and others. Members shared resources with one another and discussed solutions.
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