Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) is often one of the most talked about but least practiced aspect of program as well as organizational management. The regional program, One Health for Humans, Environment, Animals and Livelihoods (OH4 HEAL), organized a 4 days MEAL training (November 15-18, 2022) in Nairobi in a bid to break this myth and enable program practitioners ‘talk the talk as well as walk the talk’ by equipping them well with the knowledge and skill necessary to discharge MEAL duties and responsibilities in a systematic way. The Regional HEAL team has conducted the first round of MEAL training in the beginning of August 2022 in Ethiopia and this is the second round organized for Somalia and Kenya teams.
The training is designed in such a way that trainees can internalize the architecture behind the program design, take forward program monitoring functions in a very organized way, capture, disseminate and utilize learnings and ensure sustainability of program outcomes.
A consortium composed of VSF-Suisse (the lead agency), Amref and ILRI are implementing HEAL program in the vulnerable horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia) by supporting a bottom-up approach that is participatory, context-specific, coordinated and integrated to reshape service delivery through One Health Units (OHUs). These units facilitate interactions and coordination among key stakeholders (governmental departments, frontline service providers and communities), sustainably strengthen an integrated human, livestock and rangeland health services and support communities for enhanced wellbeing and resilience.
The training has been very an interactive session with group discussion. MEAL training is an eye opener for continuous monitoring and activity implementation tracking
The training went very well and ended as scheduled on the 18th of November 2022 achieving its objectives. It also served as an important forum by which HEAL Somalia and Kenya teams exchanged their experiences. I also used the training as an opportunity to share the experience from HEAL Ethiopia team (Borana, Moyale and Filtu Field Offices) including 1) hydroponic fodder production, 2) livelihood diversification and 3) adaptive management in OH service provision.