3. CONCLUSION
The lessons in this Sampler, spanning regions from West Africa to the Middle East and covering
initiatives from Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration to Female Engagement Teams, reveal
the critical need for Monitoring & Evaluation for Peace and Stability in conflict environments.
Why is M&E important for peace and stability?
To provide accountability.
To coordinate with various stakeholders.
To avoid doing harm.
To improve peace and stability outcomes.
What are best practices for M&E in conflict environments?
Perform a self-assessment of how you and your organization interact with the
conflict system. Consider using Internal Reviews to facilitate such self-reflection, as
developed by Conflict Management Initiative to adapt its approach to complex
political environments like Moldova.
Articulate and test theories of change, as Mercy Corps accomplished in its USAID-
funded research project to determine the relationship between economic
development and stability. Testing assumptions about theories of change assures that
future conflict interventions are based on evidence of what works. Evaluate
interventions for “peace writ large,” not only for program goals accomplished.
Design culturally and contextually appropriate indicators in consultation with
locals and development practitioners, unlike some Female Engagement Teams in
southern Afghanistan who used unreliable measures of impact, misinterpreting local
people and likely reporting inaccurate findings.
Establish information management systems to house and ensure verification
of data obtained via monitoring. This prevents a lack of accountability such as
when ex-combatants in Liberia registered multiple times in the disarmament process.
Design and utilize data collection methods which can adapt to unforeseen
circumstances, such as the earthquake which interrupted data collection for the
MPICE evaluation of the Haiti Stabilization Initiative. Include locals (both men and
women) through participatory data collection methods, and strengthen national
sources of data. Ensure the safety of all local staff and field monitors.
Comprehensively analyze the data and aim to produce useful products for
stakeholders. A Civil Affairs knowledge management team provided consolidated
products for interagency teams in Syria to use to improve their work, de-conflict civil
defense efforts, and coordinate more closely with various stakeholders.
Share lessons learned with the broader community. Open-access knowledge
platforms such as DME for Peace increase the culture of learning and adaptive
management in order to improve future peace and stability efforts.
Monitoring & Evaluation for Peace and Stability is essential and achievable.
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