78.Design and Implementation of a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Strategy (MEALS)
• Contracting Organization: Interamerican Development Bank for Development Bank of Jamaica
• Start Date: November 2021
• End Date: February 2022
To design and implement a practical MEALS strategy that will support the DBJ in building capacity to conduct real-time monitoring and periodic reporting and evaluation of the BIGEE loan program.
The methodology used for this consultnacy was based on the World Bank’s 'Ten steps to designing, building, and sustaining a results-based monitoring and evaluation system' model, which begins with a readiness assessment and ends with the sustainability of the M&E system within the organization. This methodology was complemented by the learning and building from previous experiences from other IDB financed programs and the integration of cross-cutting themes such as gender, climate change and COVID-19 responsiveness. The activities carried out included the design of process maps that covered all procedures and internal workflows of the DBJ and outcome maps to track the transir across the results chain, the development of Theory of Change and the update of the existing M&E strategy. As well, an online platform to update the data collection processes was designed and implemented and an interactive dashboard for DBJ's results was elaborated. Besides, training materials for implementing the MEALS strategy were designed and virtual training session were given (for the DBJ staff, with the aim of building capacity for them to complete IDB's required reports.
The DBJ's MEALS strategy was finalized and the interactive dashboard for DBJ results was linked to the bank's website. An operational manual of the platform was elaborated for future DBJ's new team members and an evaluation of the training exercises was carried out.