Hnin Ei Lwin

I have recently become more interested in both natural and human-made disasters, especially as their impacts continue to grow across many countries. When we talk about natural hazards, it is impossible to ignore the influence of climate change and the urgent need to strengthen our resilience at every level. Disasters do not respect borders; their effects are interconnected and often cascade across regions, with climate-related events such as floods, storms, extreme heat, and earthquakes becoming more frequent and severe.  In Myanmar, cyclones, widespread flooding, landslides, and earthquakes have exposed gaps in real-time data, coordination, and last-mile communication, leaving some communities without the information they need to stay safe. Although many countries in the region are improving forecasting systems and preparedness mechanisms, vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations still face significant barriers to early action.  For the Early Warnings for All initiative to su...

I encourage you to read this discussion paper recently published by INTRAC if you work on MEL systems, carry out evaluations, or collaborate with partners in the international development or humanitarian sector. It offers a thoughtful and accessible overview of what decolonising MEL can look like in practice, including centring community knowledge, strengthening local decision making, and using culturally relevant methods. The insights draw on contributions from practitioners and researchers across the global majority and minority worlds, which makes the paper feel grounded and relatable. It is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to approach MEL in a more equitable, reflective, and community-aligned way. Link to the report: https://www.intrac.org/resources/how-are-others-thinking-about-decolonising-mel-within-the-international-development-sector Hnin Ei Lwin #Monitoring #Evaluation #Reporting #Research #MEARL #social #development #humanitarian #publichealth

The Global Assessment Report (GAR)  on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)  2025 highlights that disasters, both natural and human-made, pose a serious threat to lives, livelihoods, and development, especially in vulnerable countries. Least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and small island developing states face steep challenges in disaster risk reduction, often limited by resources and technical capacity despite strong commitment. The report stresses that proactive investment in resilience, risk-informed planning, and sustainable development is essential to break cycles of repeated losses. GAR 2025 calls on governments, communities, and the private sector to strengthen resilience and better protect lives, infrastructure, and economies.  Recent events, including the March 2025 earthquake in Myanmar and October and November cyclones in the Philippines, highlight the urgency of investing in resilience. Link to the report:  https://www.undrr.org/gar/gar20...

Many assume that knowing either a thematic area or M&E alone is enough to evaluate a program. In reality, each skill alone is not enough: M&E without sector knowledge can produce technically correct but irrelevant results, while thematic expertise without evaluation skills leaves important insights unmeasured. For a deeper look at why combining M&E and thematic knowledge is essential for meaningful and actionable impact, please read the full document I discuss briefly below. Hnin Ei Lwin #Monitoring #Evaluation #Reporting #Research #MEARL #social #development #humanitarian #publichealth