We've launched a new learning space for practitioners to read about how others have overcome common MRM obstacles.
Monitoring and evaluating programmes using a market systems approach is not easy, but it is fundamental to progressing and refining how we use the approach to achieve impact. This emphasis was reiterated with DFID's recent 2017 economic development strategy, which promotes monitoring and results measurement systems which “are not used mechanistically, but pave the way for further analysis to improve the effectiveness of our programmes.”
This takes us back to the problem – that monitoring and results measurement (MRM) on market systems development (MSD) programme is challenging. So, how can we get better at it? One thing is for sure, a lot of people in the market systems development community are trying new things. Beyond the available guidance, we can learn from each other by sharing our stories of the challenges we face, and the solutions we experiment with to overcome them.
To facilitate this, BEAM has launched a new platform for MRM practitioners to share their tips and tricks on overcoming the challenges of MRM on MSD programmes.
At the end of last year, BEAM made an open call for programmes to get in touch and share their stories on the measurement challenges they have faced and the solutions they found to overcome them. The result is a new learning space for practitioners to read about how others have overcome the common obstacles faced by MSD programmes. Whether it is struggling to collect data through partners, facing difficulties avoiding self-selection bias, or battling to set up a culture of learning in a programme team – whatever troubles are keeping you in the office late, this new collection of learning stories is bound to give you some ideas about how others are overcoming the same challenge.
And this is just the beginning. The space is designed to be interactive; you are encouraged to comment on each story with your questions or respond with alternative solutions you have tried yourself. The stories are conveniently tagged to allow you to quickly browse which stories would be most helpful for you and your team.
The core of any learning initiative is the effort we each give to sharing our own lessons, so BEAM would like to thank all the programmes which contributed to this new platform. If you or your team would like to contribute, then please get in touch with your story on measurement challenges, successes and innovations, and failures. Just email Mollie.Liesner@beamexchange.org. We look forward to hearing from you!
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