What is it?
Strong Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) is critical to project success.
Monitoring is the continuous and systematic collection and analysis of data about project progress and changes in the project context.
Evaluation is the user-focused assessment of an ongoing or completed project’s design, implementation and results.
Accountability is a commitment to respond to and balance the needs of all project stakeholders (including beneficiaries, donors, partners and the organization itself).
Learning is about embedding processes for internal reflection – using data and raising questions to make smarter project decisions.
When taken together, these four components are the basis of a MEAL system. Each component is both independent and inter-related. It is helpful to consider them as puzzle pieces, each having its unique place and purpose. But, in order to create a functioning MEAL system, these pieces must be aligned, connected, and work together.