Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) for NGOs Professional Certificate

Good intentions are not enough in development work: communities, partners and funders all want to know whether a project is making a difference. This course teaches the practical skills of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) in plain language, using examples from small organisations in South Sudan and East Africa.

It is written for staff and volunteers of small NGOs, community-based organisations and youth groups, and for students who want to work in the development sector. You will learn how to plan for results with a problem tree, theory of change and logical framework; write clear indicators, baselines and targets; collect data responsibly; analyse it with free spreadsheet tools; apply the OECD DAC evaluation criteria; and report and learn from what you find.

The course has six modules and 24 written lessons, each with a worked example, a practical activity that needs only paper or free tools, reflection questions and key terms. Every module ends with a quiz, and Module 6 contains a capstone project and a 12-question final examination. The course is designed for about 24 hours of study and you can work at your own pace.

On completion you receive a Bang Ti Lenydoor certificate of completion. It is not an accredited qualification, and the course does not promise jobs or funding. Donors usually have their own formats and requirements, so always check your own grant agreement alongside what you learn here.