Convening experts from multiple countries to share their experiences and learn together is a valuable practice. As an implementing partner for two USAID-funded monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) platforms in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region—one in El Salvador and another in Peru—EnCompass invited its partner organizations (CID GALLUP, ESPIRALICA, FUSADES, FUNDE, FUNDAUNGO, FEPADE, Apoyo Consultoria, GRADE, MacroConsult, IEP) to participate in a day of learning and knowledge exchange. On June 21, more than 20 seasoned evaluators and two USAID staff members from El Salvador and Peru gathered for the Participatory Evaluation: Conceptual and Methodological Considerations course, sponsored by the EnCompass Learning Center (ELC), and led by Pablo Billela-Rodriguez.
With the Peru MEL platform coming to a close, and the El Salvador platform approaching its midpoint, EnCompass chose to bring our partners—some of the leading evaluation experts in the region—together to support the cross-pollination of ideas and strengthen relationship-building across the evaluation sector. The convening reflected USAID’s localization efforts and metrics, which emphasize participatory approaches that engage communities in meaningful, long-term decision-making roles in MEL processes. What set this training apart was its innovative approach to regional collaboration and participatory MEL practices. The session offered an excellent platform for exchanging ideas on implementing participatory approaches and strengthened the evaluation scholarship throughout the LAC Region. At the end of the training, participants noted that it was “very valuable to be part of the evaluation community that seeks to specialize and improve skills for participatory evaluations in LAC.” This shared intent, sense of community, and the participatory methodology hold great potential to inform the use of more participatory approaches to USAID evaluations in the region.
In our recent blog on Helping USAID Achieve Its Localization Objectives, the EnCompass team noted the importance of maximizing local expertise and amplifying the local and regional evidence that is being produced. We are grateful to our MEL partners for participating in this ELC offering and helping to foster better understanding of the possibilities for collaboration and co-creation in the region.
Take a moment to learn more about EnCompass’ Monitoring, Evaluation and Research work and reach out to our Business Development team at BD-Team@encompassworld.com if you are interested in exploring partnerships with us. We are currently leading MEL platform projects in Ukraine, Senegal, Lebanon, El Salvador, Bangladesh, and Zambia, and are eager to connect with partners around the world.
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