The Strengthening Pacific Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning project (PacMEL) is a New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) funded initiative to develop MEL capacity within Pacific countries. The Pacific MEL Convening is an annual learning event focused for all MEL practitioners, specialists and development partners working in the Pacific. It is the key regional MEL forum and emphasizes the importance of culturally and contextually appropriate approaches and methods. This event falls under PacMELs networking and advocacy outcome area which aims to promote the use of MEL for evidence-based decision making. The 2024 Convening will focus on the learnings of the MEL landscape and ecosystem in the last 10 years. At the same time it is the final year of the Phase 2 of the Pacific MEL Project and therefore this convening builds on the success and lessons learned during project duration to sharpen MEL services delivery at country level.
A key focus of the convening would be to look back on the MEL landscape in the Pacific and also to focus on the journey of mainstreaming Pacific knowledge and methodologies in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning. Culture is a central yet undefined aspect of Pacific MEL practice. Establishing thriving and active communities of MEL practice in the region requires time and space to articulate the nature of MEL culture. Culture defines our methodologies and approaches for practising culturally and contextually relevant MEL. Culture shapes our norms, values and principles which in turn drive our priorities and investments. The theme for the 2024 Pacific MEL Convening recognises that for Pacific peoples, our cultures are our strength. Pacific cultures shape us as a people, and in the way we practice knowing, doing and learning. In the face of existential environmental and geo-political challenges, we depend on our culture to innovate and ensure development supports the realisation of Pacific people’s goals and aspirations. MEL communities have a crucial role in realising this ambition and we invite participants to join in the sharing and learning towards realising our Pacific MEL culture.
Objectives
- Convene a regional MEL learning event to deepen collaboration towards strengthened MEL communities at national and regional levels for the Pacific
- Present on progress to strengthen Pacific MEL over the past decade and identify key pathways and actions for continued progress into the next decade.