The Unit is guided by the following terms of reference:
- Guide the conduct of ME&L across all projects and programs of the institute. Provide technical backstopping to IITA Strategic and CRP projects.
- Contribute to data aggregation and alignment functions of lITA’s Institutional Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the CGIAR System Level
- Institutionalize Management Information Systems (MIS) and manage the automation of M&E processes in IITA. (IITA MEL Dashboard, MARLO, CLARISA, OBB)
- Conduct midterm evaluation of IITA projects in HQ and hubs using OECD evaluation criteria e.g. impact, sustainability, relevance, efficiency and effectiveness and provide recommendations to senior management and project managers.
- Lead the IITA ME&L-CoP team activities that includes M&E professionals and focal persons of hubs or other projects. Represent IITA on the CGIAR M&E groups, and regional M&E communities of practice.
ONE CGIAR
Currently the CGIAR is restructuring into ONE CGIAR with shared services. A new strategy and results framework (2022-2030) has been initiated to guide the process. The notion of shared support services on results and performance-based management is to provide support to all the three action areas:
- System Transformation
- Resilient Agrifood systems
- Genetic innovation.
Our vision is to become a center of excellence in M&E that would conduct research and provide technical M&E support and guidance to contribute to ONE CGIAR at global, regional and country levels.
Project Support
The ME&L Unit provides the following services to projects
- Theory of Change and Impact Pathways
- Logical / Result Frameworks
- Constructing Performance Indicators
- Baseline Studies
- Household surveys / Evaluation Studies
- ME&L Strategy Development
- Learning Agenda
- MIS Support
- ME&L Training
Monitoring Evaluation and learning Community of practice (ME&L CoP):
The ME&L-CoP was formed in 2014 with 12 project M&E specialists/officers across the four hubs. These M&E experts joined seven project managers and seven staff of the M&E Unit to organize the first M&E summit in 2015. ME&L-CoP membership grew to 15 M&E specialists/officers in 2018. After a period of inactivity, it was rejuvenated in 2019 and it has now grown to 24 members in 2020. The ME&L-CoP is guided by the following principles:
- Monthly virtual meetings
- Yearly Summit (face-to-face)
- Joint Monitoring and Evaluation of IITA’s Key Performance Indicators
- Sharing ideas on ME&L Tools, Methods and processes
- Linkage with CGIAR MELCOP and Impact Assessment COP
- Capacity Building activities
- Common Performance Management Standard
- Joint Proposal Writing.
ME&L Strategy
In line with IITA’s 2012–2020 refreshed strategy, the M&E strategy is aimed at building M&E capacity within IITA and to service Scientists, Project Managers, and Senior Management on all aspects of M&E.
Evaluations
Resources
Other ME&L documents
Learning papers / videos
IITA-MEL Dashboard
The objective of IITA-MEL Dashboard is to provide a system to monitor and aggregate project data (planned and reported) based on Key Performance Indicators. Web link:
