Integrity takes part in a panel at the New Frontiers in International Development Monitoring conference

On the 23rd May 2019, Integrity attended an event, hosted by MSI, a Tetra Tech company, titled: New Frontiers in International Development Monitoring. The aim of the event was to discuss how to elevate the practice of monitoring and promote improved cohesion between the monitoring, evaluation, and learning in international development.

Monitoring in international development is widespread, but often ill-defined and has rarely been subject to intellectual inquiry. Transparency, adaptability, and data-driven decision-making are increasing priorities for international development donors, implementers, and third-party monitoring firms. The management, technological, and political realities require and deserve collaborative scrutiny to improve the state of the field.

The event was opened by Keith Brown, president of MSI, who discussed the evolution of Monitoring and Evaluation within USAID since the 1980s, detailing that Evaluation had the ‘top perch’ within USAID programming, but over this period the focus has shifted to performance monitoring and evidence building. In recent times the attention has been moved back towards a re-engagement with evaluations, with the ultimate goal of finding a balance.

The event also welcomed guest speaker, USAID Inspector General, Ann Calvaresi Barr who spoke of the recent top management challenges affecting USAID programming and what Third-Party Monitoring can do to address these issues.

Discussion Panel: Frontiers in International Development Monitoring – Elevating the Discipline

Kathryn Rzeszut, Senior Expert MEL of Integrity, was invited to take part in the discussion panel titled: Frontiers in Data Collection and Management: Elevating the Discipline of Monitoring. Kathryn gave input into the utilization of new technologies within monitoring, and the challenges and risks that arise with the use of new digital systems, notably the risk of reduced human-to-human interaction.

Find out more about the day’s agenda and discussion points at the MSI website here.