In this podcast, Godfrey Senkaba explores key global issues that profoundly impact the field of monitoring and evaluation (M&E). These issues include technological advancements, climate change, conflict and fragility, and the changing political and geopolitical contexts. Each of these issues presents unique challenges and complexities for M&E practitioners, ranging from assessing the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance in conflict-affected areas to adapting to the chang...

Unlock the secrets to resolving conflicts over Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) data with expert persuasion tactics in the latest episode of the monitoring and evaluation boost podcast with Godfrey Senkaba! Learn the essential persuasion tactics to navigate conflicts over M&E data with stakeholders.  From active listening to evidence-based reasoning and collaborative problem-solving, discover strategies to achieve consensus and drive better outcomes in your M&E activities. Tune in...

Gaining stakeholder support is key to implementing monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities effectively. In this episode, Godfrey Senkaba, discusses the vital role of stakeholder analysis, utilizing a matrix tool to identify, understand, and engage stakeholders for optimal success in M&E activities. Follow along as Godfrey discusses how stakeholders and stakeholder analysis serve as a cornerstone for driving M&E initiatives forward effectively. Below is the discussion...

Mastering M&E training workshops requires thorough planning and consideration of various factors, including the facilitator, participants, logistics, and context. Godfrey Senkaba discusses the top 10 tips for you or your organizations to ensure the success of their workshops and empower participants to become more effective in monitoring and evaluating their projects.  Follow along as Godfrey defines M&E training workshops, workshop formats, purposes, benefits, and how to better plan...

Godfrey Senkaba chats with Sajilu Kamwendo, the Director, Outcome, and Impact Evaluation at Mastercard Foundation. Sajilu has over 20 years of experience in program evaluation which includes work with international organizations, implementing or funding relief and development programs.  Sajilu elaborates on how his passion for curiosity and patterns propelled his journey in evaluation, ultimately leading him from a novice to the position of directing impact evaluation at the MasterCard...

Godfrey Senkaba chats with Katherine Haugh, the CEO, and founder of The Convive Collective. Katherine has over 10 years of experience in program evaluation which includes work with both local and international development organizations including USAID and United Nations.  Katherine’s story is interesting, and motivating, particularly in how she turned complexity into clarity, setting forth a successful evaluation career. From doing intern and volunteer roles to monitoring and evaluation...

Godfrey Senkaba discusses his personal strategy for supporting the professional development of the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) employees. Based on his nearly 20 years of experience in the M&E field, Godfrey has developed the 3-10 Framework for M&E Staff Professional Development. This framework identifies three key focal areas and 10 factors to consider in supporting M&E staff professional development. They include:  External M&E environment which impacts the M&E...

Godfrey Senkaba discusses 10 must-dos for every hiring manager to successfully onboard new employees, particularly those who will perform monitoring and evaluation jobs. The tips are intended to improve the onboarding practices of hiring managers. Already 9 in 10 employees disagree that their organization does a good job onboarding new employees (Gallup.com).   Tip #1. Develop and complete a pre-onboarding checklist  Tip #2. Scope the issues to address during onboarding  Tip #3. Develop and...

Godfrey Senkaba discusses the last five of the top ten tips every manager should know to hire the best monitoring and evaluation, staff. Whether you are a monitoring and evaluation manager or a generalist project manager, we often must deal with organizational processes, systems, practices, and own individual choices in any hiring decisions. The following is the last set of tips to help you make a good M&E Staff hire.  Tip #6. A good oral interview by an M&E candidate may not...

Godfrey Senkaba discusses five of the top ten tips every manager should know in order to hire the best monitoring and evaluation staff. Whether you are a monitoring and evaluation manager or a generalist project manager, we often must deal with organizational processes, systems, practices, and our own individual choices in any hiring decision. The following tips will help you make a good M&E Staff hire: Tip #1. Never hire a monitoring and evaluation staff without first confirming the...

Godfrey Senkaba discusses 4 key issues and over 15 Tips you must know to conduct a value-add quality review of a project proposal before submission to the funder. Whether you are internal staff or external consultants, taking a holistic approach to project proposal quality review will help you add value to both the process and product.  Here are the four issues you must consider: Issue #1 Rationale. You should the why a quality review of the project proposal is needed and be sure to align...

Godfrey Senkaba discusses the 5 most important issues a monitoring and evaluation specialist must consider before they develop the different monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) sections, and related annexes of a project proposal. A typical project proposal requires an M&E plan or MEL Plan narrative and an Indicator Tracking Table. These should complete after gaining a full understanding of the following issues:  ·       Role and Responsibilities, ·       Technical design, ·     ...

Godfrey Senkaba discusses the 12 important issues a monitoring and evaluation specialist must look out for when reviewing donor grant Requests for Applications (RFAs) or Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) for emergency or development activities. These issues will help you understand, plan for, and design better monitoring and evaluation strategy and processes for the proposed project.  The 12 issues focus organization’s ability to design a competitive proposal, monitoring and evaluation...

Godfrey Senkaba discusses the critical role for monitoring and evaluation specialists play in helping their organizations’ new business development or proposal development efforts. He outlines the 7 best tips as must-do’s for evaluation specialists during the prepositioning phase of a grant project proposal development process. The 7 tips below are discussed with practical examples:  ·       Research the donor M&E interests and/or priorities. ·       Conduct an Organization DME Capacity...

Godfrey Senkaba spoke with Mariana Branco, an Evaluation Specialist at the World Bank.  Mariana discusses her professional life journey that is punctuated by service to others including causes that make evaluation simple, useable, and accessible. She...

Godfrey Senkaba spoke with Dr. Patricia Moore Shaffer, the former President of Washington Evaluators, and currently, Deputy Director of Research and Analysis for the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, DC. Dr. Shaffer reveals what attracted...

Godfrey Senkaba spoke with Apollo Mukasa Nkwake, monitoring, evaluation, and research specialist, evaluation journal editor, and evaluation consultant. Our discussion focused on his evaluation journey from volunteering at a local nonprofit in central...

Godfrey Senkaba spoke with Tim Leisman, a data-based community problem solver, and civic tech enthusiast. Only four years as an evaluator but has found interest in civic technology. But what is civic tech? how does it apply to evaluation? Through his...

Godfrey Senkaba spoke with Khalil Bitar, Outgoing Chair, EvalYouth Global Network, Co-leader, Eval4Action. The premise of their conversation was Khalil’s transition from the leadership of the EvalYouth, a global network he helped to co-found. We...

Godfrey Senkaba spoke with Holta Trandafili, World Vision’s Research, Learning, and Analytics Manager. The premise of their conversation was Holta recently celebrated 20 years of work as an evaluator. We discussed everything! From her interests in...

Godfrey Senkaba – Shares his monitoring and evaluation career trajectory, spanning over 15 years. He specifically discusses what he has learned performing the evaluation job in different settings, for different organizations, and applying different sets...

Godfrey Senkaba – discusses four important factors to consider when deciding if the next job will take you to a higher level in your monitoring and evaluation career. [00:34] Hello, everyone![01:02] Job Title! Sorry, consider the job description, not...

Godfrey Senkaba - discusses the top factors that inform the nature and type of minimum requirements for Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Jobs. These factors range from the organization, job, and profile of the position holder. If you are interested or...

Godfrey Senkaba – discusses why having no formal experience should not limit your interest in a monitoring and evaluation career. He provides everyday life activities that provide the opportunity to build tacit knowledge and skills transferable to a...