MDF has been engaged to design and facilitate the 2nd SEAMEO Strategic Workshop on Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), organised by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) Secretariat, to continue the development of a comprehensive SEAMEO MEL Strategy and combine this effort with capacity building and expert input on MEL practices. MDF will be involved in post-workshop evaluation and consultations to guarantee a successful MEL trajectory.

During the workshop, the Regional Centre representatives have gained a better understanding of the conceptual thinking from Theory of Change to Results framework and a MEL strategy, linking the SEAMEO Results Framework with the annual strategic planning process of the regional centres. The participants shared good practices in their work, identified key components of the SEAMEO MEL strategy and practised setting up a MEL operational plan, including developing (gender-sensitive) SEAMEO-wide indicators. As a result, the participants gained an in-depth understanding of MEL processes and effective practices. They have come up with action points to further define and refine an overall MEL strategy that is aligned with the SEAMEO strategic plan and desired impact. MDF will further support SEAMEO on this journey in the weeks to come.

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An overview of the assignment's context

The SEAMEO Secretariat is currently in the process of updating its Results Framework to specify key success criteria of each element in the SEAMEO Strategic Plan and identify the measurement and learning components that provide evidence of successful implementation and lessons to be learnt.

With increasing activities and a dense stakeholder landscape, the need for structural mechanisms to comprehensively monitor and evaluate the activities of its Regional Centres and the impact of SEAMEO as an organisation are more apparent, especially in ensuring a systematic overview of the advancements of education systems in Southeast Asia and positioning itself accordingly. Therefore, the SEAMEO Secretariat has initiated the project on “Enhancing the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Capacity of SEAMEO” as an organisational development process to advance strategic cohesion and resilience of SEAMEO through the improvement of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) processes and tools throughout the organisation.

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Education and Knowledge Development in Southeast Asia: SEAMEO's mission

The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) is a regional intergovernmental organisation established in 1965 among governments of Southeast Asian countries to promote regional cooperation in education, science, and culture in the region.

SEAMEO strives to improve access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. It also accelerates the use of science and technology solutions to address social, health, and environmental issues, and enhance intercultural understanding and global citizenship. SEAMEO works towards these results by generating evidence to inform policy making, implementing on-the-ground projects, creating platforms for regional collaboration and mutual learning, fostering partnerships between national, regional, and international stakeholders, and by providing capacity building to key personnel in ministries, institutions, and organisations.

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