Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

Self-Study Certificate Course

In humanitarian and development work, projects can fail to demonstrate their impact—not because they lack results, but because they can't measure or communicate them effectively. Without strong MEAL systems, projects face:

• Missed opportunities to adapt and improve programs in real-time
• Inability to prove project impact to donors and stakeholders
• Accountability gaps that erode community trust
• Repeated mistakes when lessons learned are missed

This practical training equips you with tools to design and embed MEAL systems that monitor progress, capture results, communicate transparently with stakeholders, and capture lessons learned. Develop your data collection and analysis skills, and learn to create feedback mechanisms that drive adaptive management and put communities at the center. Through effective MEAL implementation, you can:

• Adapt programs based on real-time data and feedback
• Make evidence-based decisions that improve outcomes
• Demonstrate clear impact to communities and donors
• Build trust through transparent accountability mechanisms
• Capture and share learning across teams and projects

Who This Is For

This training is for people working in relief, development, or humanitarian contexts who want to enhance their MEAL capabilities. It's ideal for:

• Monitoring and evaluation officers seeking to strengthen technical skills
• Project managers and coordinators integrating MEAL into project cycles
• Field staff responsible for data collection and analysis
• Program development teams designing MEAL systems
• Anyone whose work involves demonstrating results, accountability, and learning

No prior experience needed—the course delivers clear, practical guidance for newcomers while providing strategic insights and advanced applications for seasoned practitioners.

How You'll Learn

This course offers a self-paced, practical learning experience, combining study materials, reflections, exercises, and end-of-module assessments. Designed around the real-world challenges faced by humanitarian and development professionals, the course encourages you to pause, reflect, and actively develop skills you can confidently apply to your own context as you learn.

Flexible self-study
Access practical downloadable video presentations, transcripts, handouts, exercises, templates and tasks, allowing you to learn and apply skills at your own pace.

Knowledge checks
Assessments at the end of each module test your understanding, reinforce learning, and help you reflect on key concepts.

Course Discussion Forum
Share questions, insights, and challenges with peers. Instructor Neil Kendrick monitors and responds regularly to support your progress.

Certificate of completion
Successfully complete all modules and assessments to receive your certificate.

Impact Stories

9.2/10 Rating (based on 47 reviews)

Course Details

Includes:

• Lifetime access to comprehensive modules with downloadable videos, handouts, and transcripts
• Practical templates and planning tools for immediate application
• End-of-module assessments and certificate of completion
• Course discussion forum to share insights and questions with peers

Course developed and presented by Neil Kendrick, founder of ELD Impact, with 25+ years of experience training humanitarian professionals across 20+ countries.