How to succeed as a monitoring, evaluation, and learning specialist

There is no shortage of work opportunities in monitoring, evaluation, and learning, aka MEL, on Devex’s job board, with several new opportunities featured weekly. Yet, despite this ongoing demand, the field reports a shortage of skilled professionals to meet the need. So, what does the role involve, and what are the skills needed? “Essentially, I collect data and tell meaningful stories from that data,” Josephine Zingani, a Malawi-based MEL officer and programs focal point at FRIDA, the Young feminist Fund, told Devex. MEL involves designing and implementing frameworks to measure the impact and progress of programs while also ensuring the process in which data is being collected and measured is equitable, participatory, and aligns with the overall organizational framework and strategy, Zingani noted. "Always remember that while it’s a data collection process for you, it’s someone’s lived experience.” When it comes to skills, “MEL is one such field where I would say your attributes count for as much as — if not potentially more than — your hard skills,” Abhirup Bhunia, a Delhi-based senior MEL expert, who previously consulted with the United Nations Development Programme, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and Oxfam Novib, told Devex. Core attributes Bhunia mentioned included curiosity, analytical mindset, critical thinking, evaluative reasoning, learning mindset, active listening, and visual conceptualization. For those interested in these kinds of roles, Devex spoke to the two MEL professionals about how to get started and gain the skills to do the job well. A mix of theory and mindset The main components of MEL work include conceptualization/design and implementation, Bhunia explained. Conceptualization includes creating MEL plans (outlining activities, methodologies, and timelines), theories of change (linking project actions to outcomes), indicators (measuring progress), and scopes of work (detailing tasks and objectives for evaluations at various project stages), he said. For the design work, Bhunia highlighted the need for an analytical mindset paired with a strong theoretical understanding of MEL as a cross-cutting discipline. Implementation involves things like data collection, analysis, insight generation, and report writing. These tasks require proficiency with tools like Power BI, Excel, and Tableau, which help visualize and present complex data in a way that is accessible and engaging to non-MEL professionals, Zingani said. Strong research skills are also needed, in both quantitative and qualitative methods, to make sure that data is not only accurately captured but also interpreted in ways that go beyond numbers and give depth to data, Zingani noted. “I think a lot of us assume that MEL is just working with numbers and data, but we really need to be strong on storytelling in powerful ways.” Beyond technical expertise, one of the most valuable skills for MEL professionals is understanding the environment and the people whose experiences are being documented, Zingani explained. This includes recognizing the interconnectedness of program components and external factors to identify sustainable solutions, she explained. Systems thinking represents a deeper, conceptual shift in how we view MEL and its value in development, Bhunia added. Engage communities in the ownership of their data Programs thrive when MEL activities are collaborative and adaptive from the beginning, Zingani explained. This means ensuring co-creation, where all stakeholders — partners, participants, implementers, and MEL teams — are involved in developing the methodologies and frameworks applied, she said. She highlighted there is a shift taking place in data collection practices — representative of larger decolonial processes unfolding — that emphasizes greater respect for the communities involved. This shift advocates for participatory approaches where community voices play a central role in program evaluation. “It’s really important to think beyond calling data collection a field activity. We’re using the words and terminology ‘field’ when this is someone’s day-to-day life and community.” Participation starts from the project's inception, not just during implementation, highlighting the importance of providing communities with the space in the room to have ownership of their data. “You ask them how best they would love to give you their data … what approaches work best for them [and] what experiences would they not be comfortable sharing,” she said. Know how MEL is evolving Decolonized evaluation methods are reshaping the field by prioritizing community voices and indigenous approaches, explained Zingani. These methods aim to address power imbalances in traditional evaluations, making sure participants are not made to feel like they “owe” their data, she noted. “It looks at ensuring that this is a learning process for both the evaluator and the community … and giving room for the beneficiaries to provide feedback.” Decolonized methods also emphasize adaptability and moving away from rigid, standardized frameworks because the same approach can’t be applied to every community, she said. “The only way we can get there is by asking questions and involving communities from the beginning.” Arts-based evaluation encourages creative, participant-centered methods that allow individuals to share their experiences in ways that feel most comfortable. Valuing diverse forms of communication promotes greater inclusivity, particularly for communities with limited formal academic training or traditional literacy skills, Zingani explained. Activities like poetry, murals, audiovisual storytelling, music composition, and folktales enable rich, meaningful data collection and deeply personal community stories, she said. There is also a growing recognition of the creative approaches young evaluators bring to MEL — youth-led evaluation — with organizations like the United Nations Population Fund leading efforts to amplify youth voices, Zingani said. “Young people are being more involved in design implementation, and they're also being brought onto the global stage to say these are people that we need to listen to.” Lastly, there’s a great deal of advancement with generative AI-based tools conducting data analysis and writing code that is changing the field and raising conversations on data ethics, Bhunia said. So, where to start? For those getting started, a background in social sciences or economics can be helpful —- but not mandatory — said Zingani, who studied sociology. On the other hand, Bhunia believes that the most important thing is having “the aptitude and eventually acumen for the kind of mindset required for MEL.” A specific academic degree is less relevant, he said, unless the MEL you want to do is strictly impact evaluation — for that, training in microeconomics, research methodology, and statistics is helpful. Otherwise, learning on the job will yield the highest returns, he said. Bhunia recommended starting with program implementation to understand development before venturing further. “The skills needed can be developed quickly, but the initial programming experience will make you a better MEL professional because you will see the program side better,” he said. Both Bhunia and Zingani agree it’s important to undertake training programs and short courses. For example, Zingani is currently enrolled in an impact evaluation program at Trinity College Dublin through a scholarship with Irish Aid — which provides scholarships to youth in selected sub-Saharan African countries, she said. Better Evaluation is another resource she recommended for undergoing training relevant to MEL. To build foundational skills, she recommended becoming proficient with tools such as Excel, Tableau, Power BI, and SPSS, noting that prior knowledge of these tools is often important before pursuing advanced university-level courses. For training, Bhunia recommended professional development activities by evaluation associations like AEA, APEA, and EEA. He also suggested exploring MEL resources from the U.N., think tanks like the Institute of Development Studies, ODI Global, and the Center for Global Development, and evaluation arms like the World Bank's Independent Evaluation Group; USAID's Office of Learning Evaluation and Research, which is under the agency’s Bureau for Planning, Learning, and Resource Management; and BMZ's DEval, he said. “You should have the appetite to learn more on MEL — and reflect upon what you learn — to be a good MEL practitioner. So if you are already a MEL professional, I’d say practice in your own field what you preach to your programs, and you will excel,” he said. Ready to stand out from the crowd and get noticed by the recruiters who matter most? Update your Devex profile and start connecting with top global development recruiters now.