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LOCALIZATION AND LOCALLY-LED ACTION

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Having worked on several projects focused on localization and localization strategies informed by research and M&E, I couldn't agree more with the points mentioned in this document. Localization is not just another activity or policy. It is about shifting power through shared decision-making, equitable partnerships, mutual accountability, and stronger local leadership. While local organizations are increasingly included in coordination structures, decision-making is still largely driven by international actors, raising concerns that their participation is often more symbolic than meaningful. Project-based funding and top-down capacity-building approaches can also limit local ownership, overlook local knowledge, and reinforce dependency. These realities show that localization is still a work in progress and raise important questions about power, partnerships, and the future of humanitarian and development aid. Link to the doc: https://alnap.hacdn.io/media/documents/ALNAP_Explain...
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RECONSTRUCTING BASELINE DATA

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The lack of baseline data is a recurring challenge in M&E that I have encountered throughout my experience, especially when frameworks require a direct comparison between baseline and endline data to measure changes over time. In practice, there are situations where baseline data are not collected at the beginning of a project, and implementation moves forward based on immediate contextual needs and operational priorities, without fully considering the data requirements outlined in the M&E framework. To address this, I would like to share an old but still useful resource by Michael Bamberger that offers practical strategies for "reconstructing" baseline data. These include using recall methods and key informant interviews to capture early conditions, leveraging secondary sources, reviewing project-specific administrative records, and conducting group interviews to understand past socioeconomic characteristics and behaviors of the target population.  These techniques c...
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EVALUATION STRATEGY

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Evaluation should be part of an organization's broader learning and accountability system, rather than an ad hoc reporting exercise or merely a requirement for donor compliance. Hnin Ei Lwin #Monitoring #Evaluation #Reporting #Research #MEARL #social #development #humanitarian #publichealth 
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The Gender Equality and Climate Policy Scorecard, June 2026

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The Scorecard measures progress in six areas of gender-responsive climate action (Economic Security, Unpaid Care Work, Gender-Based Violence, Health, Participation and Leadership, and Gender mainstreaming). It helps civil society, governments, and the UN monitor progress on gender commitments in climate policies and encourages learning from good practices. This fact sheet reviews 67 third‑iteration NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) submitted by 30 September 2025, together with case studies from Cambodia, Kenya, and Uruguay.  Therefore, i t enables comparisons across some countries and policy areas, identifies gaps, and supports accountability through an online repository of good practices. Its methodology can also be applied to other climate policy documents to provide a broader view of countries' efforts to advance both gender equality and climate action. The full dataset, including information on policy actions, can be accessed on an interactive dashboard :...
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Food & Nutrition Security Update_World Bank_June 2026

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According to the latest food security update (June 2026), Myanmar remains the region's greatest concern in East Asia and the Pacific, with 12.4 million people facing acute food insecurity due to ongoing conflict, market disruptions, and high agricultural input costs. Continued monitoring should focus on food affordability, input costs, exchange rate pass-through, climate-related and logistics risks, and the implementation of policy measures. Global food and nutrition security also remains fragile. As noted in the report, production of major cereals is projected to decline from the record levels reached in 2025, highlighting continued risks to global food supplies. Link to the doc: https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/40ebbf38f5a6b68bfc11e5273e1405d4-0090012022/related/Food-and-Nutrition-Security-Update-edition-123-June-2026.pdf   https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture/brief/food-security-update Hnin Ei Lwin #Monitoring #Evaluation #Reporting #Research...
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ASIA AND THE PACIFIC SDG PROGRESS REPORT 2026, ESCAP

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According to ESCAP's (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) 2026 Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report, the Asia-Pacific region is falling behind on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with only five years remaining to meet the 2030 deadline.  The report highlights a clear contradiction: while the region has achieved significant progress in poverty reduction, health improvements, and industrialization, these gains are being offset by environmental degradation and worsening inequality.  Although indicators for digital connectivity and international trade demonstrate strength, systemic challenges continue to undermine progress.  Furthermore, the slow development of national statistical capacities has created data gaps for critical indicators, hindering effective monitoring and implementation of the 2030 agenda. Link to the document: https://www.unescap.org/kp/2026/asia-and-pacific-sdg-progress-report-2026 https://repository.unescap.org/ser...
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MEN FOR GENDER EQUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE, GUIDANCE NOTE, UNDP

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Gender issues are often viewed primarily as women's issues, and the responsibility for advancing gender equality is frequently placed on women. As a result, there is limited recognition that patriarchal norms can also negatively affect men and that gender equality benefits everyone. This guidance note was developed to address persistent gender inequalities within organizational settings by encouraging men to become active partners in building a more gender-equal workplace. It recognizes men not only as beneficiaries of gender equality but also as important agents of change. The note highlights the role men can play in challenging harmful gender norms and promoting positive workplace culture. It provides practical guidance through the "ABC of Change" framework: Allyship, Bystander Action, and Collective Pressure. It also introduces the 5-D Model for bystander intervention: Distraction, Delegation, Documentation, Delay, and Direct Intervention. These approaches support safe...
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CONFLICT SENSITIVITY AND MONITORING & EVALUATION TOOLBOX, UNDP LEBANON, 2024

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The Conflict Sensitivity and Monitoring & Evaluation Toolbox is the seventh toolkit in   The Conflict Sensitivity Guidance Note and Toolbox  series, produced under the Lebanon Response Plan’s conflict sensitivity mainstreaming work led by UNDP. This toolbox provides practical tips for conducting conflict-sensitive M&E within the unique context of Lebanon. That said, it is designed as a flexible framework rather than a rigid, context-specific document. Therefore, the toolkit can be applied to other countries facing similar conflict dynamics, such as Myanmar,   with key adaptations to align with the local political and social context. Link to the document:   https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2024-10/conflict_sensitivity_and_monitoring_evaluation_toolbox-en.pdf   https://www.undp.org/lebanon/publications/conflict-sensitivity-and-monitoring-and-evaluation-toolbox   Hnin Ei Lwin #Monitoring #Evaluation #Reporting #Research...
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Global Risks Report 2026, World Economic Forum

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The Global Risks Report 2026, through the Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS), captures insights from over 1,300 experts worldwide. It explores risks in the current or immediate term (in 2026), the short to medium term (up to 2028), and the long term (up to 2036) by examining the implications of these risks and their interconnections through six in-depth analyses of selected themes. Read the full report through the link below.   https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2026 https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Global_Risks_Report_2026.pdf   ISBN: 978-2-940631-60-5   The report and an interactive data platform are   available at  https://www.weforum.org/publications/   global-risks-report-2026/ .   Hnin Ei Lwin #Monitoring #Evaluation #Reporting #Research #MEARL #social #development #humanitarian #publichealth 
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CHECKLIST FOR ASSESSING AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF A LOGFRAME MATRIX, EU

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The  2025 European Commission checklist for assessing and improving the quality of a Logframe Matrix (LFM) is a concise technical self-assessment guide or reference that helps users test whether a logframe is logically structured   and aligned with  the EU’s practical  guidance,   as well as  identify gaps and   weaknesses.  By explaining the main logframe concepts   (impact, outcomes, outputs, activities, inputs, and assumptions), it shows how these elements should form a clear results chain from activities up to long-term impact.   Link to the document:  https://capacity4dev.europa.eu/library/checklist-assessing-quality-logframe-matrix_en?refgid=777   Hnin Ei Lwin #Monitoring #Evaluation #Reporting #Research #MEARL #social #development #humanitarian #publichealth 
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