MEAL in Projects

Question 1

MEAL

Answer 1

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning

Question 2

MEAL PUZZLE - Monitoring and Accountability

Answer 2

Participation/Feedback and Response

Question 3

MEAL PUZZLE - Monitoring and Learning

Answer 3

Critical Thinking and Adaptation

Question 4

MEAL PUZZLE - Evaluation and Accountability

Answer 4

Results and Transparency

Question 5

MEAL PUZZLE - Evaluation and Learning

Answer 5

Good Practices and Strategic Direction

Question 6

MONITORING

Answer 6

The continual and systematic collection of data to provide information about project progress

Question 7

EVALUATION

Answer 7

The user-focused, systematic assessment of the design, implementation and results of an ongoing or completed project.

Question 8

Monitoring or Evaluation Question: How many people or communities were reached?”

Answer 8

Monitoring

Question 9

Monitoring or Evaluation Question: Did project processes complete activities on time and on budget?

Answer 9

Monitoring

Question 10

Monitoring or Evaluation Question: How have outcomes achieved varied by different groups within the target area?

Answer 10

Evaluation

Question 11

Monitoring or Evaluation Question: Did the project effectively and appropriately invest its time and budget to conduct its activities?

Answer 11

Evaluation

Question 12

Monitoring or Evaluation Question: Was the project successful in achieving the targets set for its intended outcomes?

Answer 12

Monitoring

Question 13

Monitoring or Evaluation Question: Is the project reaching (or did it reach) those with greatest need? If not, why not?

Answer 13

Evaluation

Question 14

Monitoring or Evaluation? Purpose: A systematic and objective assessment of the merit, value or worth of an ongoing or completed project

Answer 14

Evaluation

Question 15

Monitoring or Evaluation? Frequency: Regular and ongoing during project implementation

Answer 15

Monitoring

Question 16

Monitoring or Evaluation? Frequency: Periodic, one-off events during and, if funding permits, after project implementation

Answer 16

Evaluation

Question 17

Monitoring or Evaluation? Responsibility: Activities are often externally led, although they should involve the active participation of project staff

Answer 17

Evaluation

Question 18

Monitoring or Evaluation? Purpose: Tracking inputs, activities and progress toward achievement of agreed outcomes and impacts

Answer 18

Monitoring

Question 19

Monitoring or Evaluation? Responsibility: Activities are conducted by members of the project team

Answer 19

Monitoring

Question 20

Monitoring or Evaluation? Use of Data: Identifies potential course corrections and Contributes to longer-term organizational learning

Answer 20

Evaluation

Question 21

Monitoring or Evaluation? Use of data: Informs timely decision-making and short-term corrective action in support of adaptive management

Answer 21

Monitoring

Question 22

ACCOUNTABILITY

Answer 22

A commitment to balance and respond to the needs of all stakeholders (including project participants, donors, partners and the organization itself) in the activities of the project.

Question 23

Demonstrating that project work has been conducted in compliance with agreed donor requirements and MEAL best practices

A. Transparent communications
B. Alignment with standards
C. Responsiveness
D. Participation

Answer 23

B

Question 24

Establishing channels through which stakeholders can voice feedback, ideas, suggestions and complaints; and committing to provide an appropriate response on how their input is informing project decisions.

A. Transparent communications
B. Alignment with standards
C. Responsiveness
D. Participation

Answer 24

C

Question 25

Encouraging varying degrees of contributions from different types of stakeholders in initiating, defining the parameters for, and conducting MEAL.

A. Transparent communications
B. Alignment with standards
C. Responsiveness
D. Participation

Answer 25

D

Question 26

Sharing monitoring and evaluation information and results with communities, partners, donors and other stakeholders.

A. Transparent communications
B. Alignment with standards
C. Responsiveness
D. Participation

Answer 26

A

Question 27

LEARNING

Answer 27

Having a culture and processes in place that enable intentional reflection. The aim of learning is to make smarter decisions.

Question 28

Including concrete learning elements—such as the use of checklists to prompt learning—and learning questions in meeting agendas.

A. Incentivizing learning
B. Encouraging a spirit of curiosity
C. Embedding learning processes
D. Promoting adaptive management
E. Sharing information

Answer 28

C

Question 29

Framing all project work as a learning opportunity by encouraging, modeling and rewarding learning.

A. Incentivizing learning
B. Encouraging a spirit of curiosity
C. Embedding learning processes
D. Promoting adaptive management
E. Sharing information

Answer 29

A

Question 30

Analyzing monitoring and evaluation data promptly and frequently, actively seeking to understand project data, and using evidence to inform decisions and adjustments to project design, planning and implementation.

A. Incentivizing learning
B. Encouraging a spirit of curiosity
C. Embedding learning processes
D. Promoting adaptive management
E. Sharing information

Answer 30

D

Question 31

Using project learning to inform organizational and sectoral best practices.

A. Incentivizing learning
B. Encouraging a spirit of curiosity
C. Embedding learning processes
D. Promoting adaptive management
E. Sharing information

Answer 31

E

Question 32

Establishing a workplace that supports the asking of questions, curiosity, and the challenging of assumptions in the spirit of learning.

A. Incentivizing learning
B. Encouraging a spirit of curiosity
C. Embedding learning processes
D. Promoting adaptive management
E. Sharing information

Answer 32

B

Question 33

What is the correct order of the MEAL cycle?

A. Using MEAL data
B. Analyzing MEAL data
C. Designing Logic Models
D. Collecting MEAL data
E. Embed Learning and Using externally
F. Planning MEAL activities

Answer 33

C
F
D
B
A
E

Question 34

Involves designing logic models—theory of change, results framework and Logical Framework—that show how the desired change will happen

1. Designing
2. Planning
3. Collecting
4. Analyzing
5. Using

Answer 34

1

Question 35

Data are used internally to inform management decisions, and externally to inform communications and promote accountability

1. Designing
2. Planning
3. Collecting
4. Analyzing
5. Using

Answer 35

5

Question 36

Regardless of your project’s size and complexity, it is important that MEAL activities, budgets and calendars are integrated and aligned with the larger project plan.

1. Designing
2. Planning
3. Collecting
4. Analyzing
5. Using

Answer 36

2

Question 37

Develop and use tools to collect high-quality data that measure progress, and help you make decisions and learn in a timely manner.

1. Designing
2. Planning
3. Collecting
4. Analyzing
5. Using

Answer 37

3

Question 38

Data analysis is conducted during and after project implementation according to the analysis plans established during the MEAL planning phase

1. Designing
2. Planning
3. Collecting
4. Analyzing
5. Using

Answer 38

4

Question 39

Ethical Standards: Representation

Answer 39

All populations, including the vulnerable and marginalized, have the right to be counted and adequately represented in the data.

Question 40

Ethical Standards: Informed consent

Answer 40

Participation in data collection activities must be voluntary. Participants have the right to be informed about the process, how data will be used, and to be provided with the results of that activity.

Question 41

Ethical Standards: Privacy and confidentiality

Answer 41

Data collection and storage practices should keep the participant and their opinions private and confidential.

Question 42

Ethical Standards: Participant safety

Answer 42

Participants should not face any security risk as a result of participating in data collection efforts.

Question 43

Ethical Standards: Data minimization

Answer 43

The project team should ensure that the MEAL data collected are immediately relevant to the project needs, keeping the scope of MEAL activities as simple as possible and focused only on the specific data needed to answer MEAL questions.

Question 44

Ethical Standards: Responsible data usage

Answer 44

Projects should establish and follow policies to protect the data they collect; establishing procedures to ensure data is used appropriately, stored securely and destroyed when no longer needed.

Question 45

STAKEHOLDER

Answer 45

Someone who, because of their position or role, has an interest in and/or influence on the project.

Question 46

IMPORTANCE OF STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION

Answer 46

● Ensure that MEAL findings are relevant to the local context.
● Increase stakeholders’ understanding and ownership of their own program strategy and processes; what works, does not work, and why.
● Increase local-level capacity in MEAL.
● Contribute to improved communication and collaboration between project actors that are working at different levels of project implementation.
● Promote a more efficient allocation of resources.

Question 47

IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL THINKING

Answer 47

● A willingness to identify the assumptions that shape your thinking and influence your actions.
● A desire to test the extent to which your assumptions are correct and well-founded.
● A capacity to ask thoughtful questions to pursue deeper understanding.
● An openness to multiple, sometimes conflicting, perspectives reflecting different expertise, experiences and evidence.
● A commitment to reflection and analysis to inform actions.

Question 48

BIAS

Answer 48

Any systematic trend or deviation from the true value.