Save the Children’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Introductory Course

Welcome to Save the Children’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) introductory course. Save the Children has collaborated with the Open University (OU) in the United Kingdom to produce this course.

This course will introduce you the main MEAL concepts and practices. It has been developed for a variety of programme staff, senior management team members and thematic staff within Save the Children, recognizing that learners will have different prior knowledge and focus areas.

How to study this course

These materials are specifically designed for independent self-directed learning. Whether you have prior experience in the field or are new to the subject areas, the sessions will develop your knowledge, understanding and practical skills. They contain relevant information, practical activities and opportunities to reflect on your own experiences.

Before you start, think about how you are going to approach your study. The sessions vary in length and take between one and three hours. We recommend that you complete the shorter sessions in one go. The longer sessions include recommended break times.

We recognize some learners may study on their own, while others may do it in groups. It is up to you to decide what works best for you, in your situation. Pacing your studies with a colleague may facilitate exchange of ideas, especially for the activities within the study materials.

What the course will cover

The course is composed of 18 sessions. Sessions 1 and 2 introduce the course and study methodology and the principle MEAL components. Sessions 3 to 9 explore the general MEAL concepts and practices, while Sessions 10 to 18 address specific components of Save the Children’s MEAL system.

The whole course takes 30 hours to complete. We recommend that you complete Sessions 1 to 12 sequentially, then prioritise the most relevant sessions from Sessions 13 – 18.

Save the Children staff should access this course through the Save the Children International OneNet

The sessions are:

Session 1 (1 hour) Introduction to the course and monitoring & evaluation in Save ethe Children

Session 2 (2 hours) Save the Children International Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning system overview

Session 3 (2 hours) Programme frameworks, objectives and indicators

Session 4 (1 hour) MEAL planning and budgeting

Session 5 (3 hours) Baseline and evaluation design and management

Session 6 (3 hours) Methods of data collection and analysis

Session 7 (1 hour) Accountability

Session 8 (1.5 hours) Children’s participation in MEAL

Session 9 (1 hour) Use of MEAL data

Session 10 (1 hour) Monitoring and evaluating advocacy, and Empty MEAL frame

Session 11 (1.5 hours) Total reach

Session 12 (1 hour) The child participation global indicator

Session 13 (1.5 hours) Measuring results in the Global Campaign (EVERY ONE)

Session 14 (2 hours) Measuring results in Health and Nutrition

Session 15 (2 hours) Measuring results in Education

Session 16 (2 hours) Measuring results in Child Protection

Session 17 (1.5 hours) Measuring results in Child Rights Governance

Session 18 (2 hours) Measuring results in Humanitarian work