USAID Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Activity

🌍 Exploring Localization Frameworks – What’s Working and What’s Missing! 🚀 On Day 2 of the USAID/Jordan 2024 MEL Conference, Nedjma Koval, Founder and CEO of Integrated International, delivered an insightful breakout session titled "Exploring Localization Frameworks – What is Working/Missing." The session explored how to shift power dynamics within #localization frameworks, focusing on what’s working, what needs improvement, and how to foster greater local #ownership and #leadership in #MEL. 🔄💡Starting with a look at the recent history of localization—with a focus on USAID—the discussion explored the intentions behind localization and the gaps within existing frameworks. ✨ The session kept participants actively involved, encouraging them to explore why localization efforts and metrics may not always gain traction. Nedjma closed with thought-provoking suggestions for shifting power dynamics and improving frameworks to better reflect the true spirit of localization. This session was a wake-up call to rethink how we design and measure localization for a more equitable and impactful future. 🌟 Stay tuned for more insights from the #MELCONJO24. Check out this session’s presentation on #KaMP https://lnkd.in/dygzETgk The Kaizen Company #MELCONJO24 #USAID #Localization #Development #Jordan #MEL

🤖 Transforming Research and Data Collection with AI! 🚀 Day 2 of the USAID/Jordan 2024 MEL Conference featured an inspiring session titled "Transforming Research and Data Collection in Jordan with AI: Unlocking New Possibilities." Led by Bashar Al-Ali from Progmenta Management Solutions, this session explored how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can revolutionize Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) processes, driving #accuracy, #efficiency, and #effectiveness in data-limited environments. 🌍📊 Participants gained valuable insights into:  ✨ Integrating #AI into #MEL for context-specific, impactful outcomes.  ✨ Enhancing #data collection and #research with AI-driven tools.  ✨ Overcoming challenges in resource-limited settings through innovative AI solutions. Bashar also emphasized the importance of ethical AI use, strategic planning, and continuous learning to unlock AI’s full potential while mitigating risks. A must-see session for harnessing technology to empower localized solutions in Jordan! 💡⚙️ Stay tuned for more insights from the #MELCONJO24. Check out this session’s presentation on KaMP https://lnkd.in/dGaxUiJ3     #MELCONJO24 #AIinMEL #DataInnovation #Localization #USAIDinJordan #ArtificialIntelligence #Jordan  

🌟 Day 1 of the 2024 MEL Conference featured an interesting breakout session on Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) in the Context of Results-Based Financing: Experiences from the Refugee Development Impact Bond (DIB). Speakers shared their experiences, challenges, and lessons learned in the realm of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) 🌍✨ The session was delivered by:  👩💼 Dalal Masalha, Program & Operations Director, Near East Foundation  👩💻 Sundus Alsmadi, Regional MEL Manager, Near East Foundation  👩🔬 Majd Masannat, Head of Project Management Unit, Mindset - Middle East and Africa  📊 Laura Meyer, Researcher, Mathematica Participants were inspired to think about how MEL can be adapted to local contexts while ensuring global sustainability. 🌱 The conversation highlighted how locally driven solutions are making a big impact—fostering collaboration, innovation, and lasting change! 🙌 Stay tuned for more insights from the #MELCONJO24. Check out this session’s presentation on KaMP https://lnkd.in/dHyv2qhF #MELCONJO24 #Localization #ResultsBasedFinancing #Collaborating #Learning #Adapting #GlobalImpact #Jordan #Innovation #Sustainability #CLA

💬 Day 1 of the 2024 MEL Conference kicked off with an insightful panel discussion on MELA’s collaboration with the Government of Jordan, highlighting the impactful support across the #education, #youth, #health, and #justice sectors. The session, moderated by Aseel Alqudah from USAID Jordan, featured an incredible lineup of panelists: Huda Ababneh from the Ministry of Health, Jehad Masadeh from the Ministry of Youth, Heba AlRaqqad from the USAID Public Accountability & Justice Strengthening Activity (PAJ), and Mai Elian from the USAID Technical Assistance Program (TAP). 🌟 💡 Dr. Jehad Masadeh shared how MELA’s support was pivotal in building local capacity, saying, “Through MELA’s support, we conducted a training of trainers on monitoring and evaluation for 15 staff members from the Ministry of Youth. Some of these trainers went on to train 40 more staff across various departments. This effort is a key part of our succession plan, ensuring knowledge transfer to the next generation of employees based on the ministry's needs.” 📈 This panel session illustrated the power of collaboration and capacity-building in creating sustainable, locally-led change in Jordan’s critical sectors. 🚀 #MELCONJO24 #USAIDJordan #Localization #Development #MEL #Government #Jordan #CapacityBuilding  

✨ 2024 USAID/Jordan MEL Conference Highlights ✨ 📅 November 3 marked the start of the 2024 USAID Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Conference and Exhibition! Hosted by the USAID Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Activity (MELA), we were thrilled to bring together USAID/Jordan Implementing Partners (IPs) and MELA partners under this year’s theme, Pathways to Localization. 🌍 🎤 In her opening remarks, the USAID/Jordan Mission Director, Leslie Reed highlighted USAID's dedicated efforts toward advancing #localization in Jordan, stating, 💡 “Local partners teach us new ways of thinking, push us to be more adaptable, and remind us of the value of #innovation that emerges from the ground up. This mutual exchange of #knowledge and skills is fundamental to achieving meaningful and lasting results.” 📍 Through our panel and breakout sessions, we highlighted the #successes and #lessons from MELA’s localization efforts, giving the space for USAID/Jordan IPs, Local MEL Organizations, and MELA partners to showcase and share their localization approaches and insights. Through the #Expo, USAID IPs showcased their specific localization approaches that are evident in different sectors and key areas. We also celebrated MELA’s accomplishments and successes over the last five years at the Expo. Stay tuned for more highlights and insights! في 3 تشرين الثاني تم إطلاق مؤتمر ومعرض الوكالة الأمريكية للتنمية الدولية 2024 للمتابعة والتقييم والتعلّم الذي نظمه مشروع المتابعة والتقييم والتعلّم. استضاف المؤتمر الشركاء المنفّذين لمشاريع الوكالة في الأردن وشركاء مشروع المتابعة والتقييم والتعلّم تحت شعار "مسارات التنمية بجهود محليّة". وفي كلمتها الافتتاحية، أكدت مديرة بعثة الوكالة الأمريكية للتنمية الدولية في الأردن، ليزلي ريد، على التزام الوكالة بجهود التنمية بجهود محليّة في الأردن، قائلةً: "يزودنا الشركاء المحليون بطرق جديدة للتفكير، ويحثوننا على تعزيز مرونتنا، ويذكروننا بقيمة الإبداع الذي ينطلق من القاعدة إلى القمة. هذا التبادل للمعرفة والمهارات هو أساس لتحقيق نتائج مستدامة وذات مغزى." وتخلل المؤتمر جلسات متخصصة وجلسات نقاشية سلطت الضوء على النجاحات والدروس المستفادة لمشروع المتابعة والتقييم والتعلًم فيما يتعلّق بالتنمية بجهود محليّة، مما أتاح المجال للشركاء المنفذين لمشاريع الوكالة في الأردن، وشركاء التقييم المحليين وشركاء مشروع المتابعة التقييم والتعلّم لمشاركة وتقديم منهجياتهم وتجاربهم حول هذا الموضوع. ومن خلال المعرض، عرض الشركاء المنفذون لمشاريع الوكالة أبرز منهجياتهم في التنمية بجهود محلية في مختلف القطاعات والمجالات الأساسية. كما احتفل مشروع المتابعة والتقييم والتعلّم بنجاحاته على مدى السنوات الخمس الماضية. ابقوا على تواصل للاطلاع آخر المستجدّات! #MELCONJO24 #MELA #USAID #Pathways #Localization #Jordan

🌟 Celebrating Local MEL Organizations: A Five-Year Journey 🚀 MELA’s five-year journey of advancing monitoring, evaluation, and learning in Jordan wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible contributions of our local MEL organizations (LMOs)! 🗣️ At the USAID/Jordan 2024 MEL Conference, we proudly highlighted three of our LMOs as they shared their inspiring stories of collaboration, growth, and transformation through their engagement with #MELA. ✨ Kicking off the storytelling session, Noor AL-Deeb from Edvise ME shared her journey with MELA through building the capacity of local organizations like Crown Prince Foundation and how this helped them evolve as an organization and amplify their #impact. ✨ Majd Masannat from Mindset - Middle East and Africa took us through an inspiring journey of #growth, localization, and the global export of Jordanian #MEL expertise. 🌍 She shared valuable insights into Mindset’s impactful work, both in Jordan and internationally, highlighting successful assessments and research across key sectors, including #adolescence, #healthcare, and #education. It’s exciting to see how local expertise is making waves globally! ✨ Nedjma Koval, Founder and CEO of Integrated International, shared how MELA has been instrumental in transforming their journey. From conducting in-depth evaluations to delivering impactful capacity-building activities—and notably through the USAID MEL Apprenticeship Program—Integrated International has grown into a stronger, more innovative force in the MEL landscape. 🤝 These inspiring stories were a testament to the power of localization and the vital role of local expertise in shaping #sustainable #development outcomes. #MELCONJO24 #USAIDJordan #Localization #MEL #Storytelling #Jordan #Apprenticeship

🌟 Day 2 of the 2024 MEL Conference featured an interactive panel discussion on Approaches to Localization, where Chiefs of Party from USAID’s 🩺 #health, 💧 #water, 🏙️ #municipal, and 📚 #education Activities shared valuable insights on advancing localization through stakeholder engagement. Moderated by Ali Khatib from #MELA, the panel featured four panelists:  🔹 Linda Tubaishat (Municipal Support Program #MSP)  🔹 Hala Zabaneh (Pre-Service Teacher Education in Jordan #PRESTIJ)  🔹 Doris Youngs (Community Health and Nutrition Activity #CHN)  🔹 Frank OBrien (Water Efficiency and Conservation Activity #WEC) 💡 The panelists explored the challenges and opportunities of embedding localization principles into their programs, highlighting its pivotal role in fostering sustainable, community-driven solutions. As Linda Tubaishat, Chief of Party for the Municipal Support Program, aptly stated: "Localization is the foundation of every single step and activity we implement in our communities across the Kingdom. #Municipalities are the platform and entry point for the #community, private sector, and other sectors we interact with. They sit in the driving seat where they have the #ownership, and our role at #MSP is to equip them with the #skills and tools to effectively engage with their communities, deliver better #services, and attract #investments." #MELCONJO24 #USAIDJordan #Approaches #Localization #Development #MEL #Partners #Jordan 

🚀 Inspiring Breakout Session at the MEL Conference! 🚀 Day 1 of the USAID/Jordan 2024 MEL Conference featured an impactful session titled "One-to-Many Approach: A Pathway to Localization Leveraging Economies of Scale." Delivered by Suzanne Khnaifes, MA and Najwan Shiber from the USAID Makanati - Women Economic Empowerment and Leadership Activity, this session showcased how local innovation and strategic partnerships can spark sustainable, lasting change across communities in Jordan. 🌍 The speakers shared valuable insights on how to reach a large number of organizations with limited resources, driving localization through a sustainable, scalable approach. 💡✨ They emphasized the power of partnering with #umbrella #organizations that can cascade learning and support to a wider network of institutions, ensuring #impact and sustainability at scale. Stay tuned for more insights from the #MELCONJO24. Check out this session’s presentation on KaMP: https://lnkd.in/dKWHGyHW #MELCONJO24 #USAID #Localization #Development #Jordan #MEL #Economy #Women

A Round of Applause for the 6th Cohort of Graduates of USAID Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Apprenticeship Program! 🎓🌟 On behalf of the USAID Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Activity, Integrated International held a graduation ceremony on November 12, 2024, to celebrate the incredible achievements of 13 rising stars in the development sector who have just completed our six-month, hands-on #MEL Apprenticeship Program! These dedicated professionals have successfully navigated a dynamic seven-week MEL training, followed by immersive, real-world experience working alongside USAID’s Implementing Partners. 💡🌍 Throughout this journey, our apprentices mastered key skills including MEL Planning & Management, Data Collection & Analysis 📊, Data Automation and Visualization, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion 🌎, Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA), among other skills. We’re beyond proud of this cohort for their hard work, resilience, and passion for creating impactful change. The journey does not end here—we can’t wait to see where their knowledge, skills, and vision takes them next! 🚀 #USAIDinJordan #USAIDApprenticeship #DevelopmentLeaders #NextGenMEL #BuildingBetterFutures #Youth

🌍 Day 2 Highlight from the USAID/Jordan 2024 MEL Conference & Exhibition 🌍  Last week, MELA hosted the USAID/Jordan 2024 MEL Conference & Exhibition titled "Pathways to Localization". 💡 During the plenary, we were thrilled to have Sarah Ellison, Senior Policy Advisor for the New Partnerships Initiative at USAID Washington, deliver an inspiring presentation on Local Capacity Strengthening: From Policy to Evidence-based Practice. ✨ Sarah debunked common myths and highlighted the facts about USAID’s Local Capacity Strengthening Policy. She shared an ideal vision for locally-led development, where local actors lead and sustain change across the globe.   📌 Key Takeaways from Sarah's talk on the Four Pillars of Localization:  1. Adapting USAID policies to foster locally sustained change.  2. Shifting power to local actors to ensure they have a meaningful role.  3. Channeling greater resources directly to credible local partners.  4. Empowering local actors as advocates and thought leaders at both global and country levels. Find her presentation on KaMP: https://lnkd.in/ddCRtZDB And make sure to check out USAID’s New Partnership Initiative page to learn more: https://www.usaid.gov/npi   #MELCONJO24 #USAID #Localization #Development #MEL #Jordan #Policy #Partnership