Monitoring & Evaluation Consultant
EvalHarvest Solutions 2024 – Present
- Designed and implemented robust MEL frameworks, digital monitoring systems, and impact evaluations, resulting in measurables, an increase in crop yields for 5,000+ farmers, and improved health outcomes for rural adolescents in Zambia.
- Led the development of web-based MEL systems with intuitive dashboards and automated data collection, streamlining program monitoring for clients across sectors.
- Spearheaded innovative digital solutions for agriculture, including farmer profiling and value chain optimization, enhancing market access for 500+ agribusiness farmers.
- Championed inclusive MEL frameworks to ensure equitable outcomes for women, youth, and marginalized communities, aligning with global sustainable development goals.
- Built and led a team of experienced professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and data-driven decision-making.
- Developed and delivered capacity-building programs to enhance digital literacy and data-driven decision-making for clients and communities
Monitoring and Evaluation
Agriworth Incubator Limited 2021 – Present
- Designed a MEL framework focused on agricultural and youth employment KPIs, including productivity rates, market access, and training effectiveness, enabling data tracking for project adjustments.
- Developed a centralized database for tracking over 1,000 youth farmers, streamlining data entry processes, and providing clear metrics on training outcomes and employment access.
- Conducted an in-depth analysis of agricultural training data, identifying key areas for intervention, which led to a 15% productivity increase among program participants.
- Mentored junior M&E consultants, providing hands-on training in data collection, verification, and analysis techniques tailored to youth employment data, contributing to enhanced team skills.
- Compiled reports on training outcomes, market expansion, and income generation among youth and SMEs, sharing these with stakeholders to support evidence-based programming and highlight project successes
Zambia
Mike Mwale
M&E Specialist Consultant
EvalHarvest Solutions
Posted on 17/02/2025
I love the discussion as it effectively highlights the importance of evaluating agri-food systems transformation policies, emphasizing sustainability, resilience, and equity.
However, there is a need to explicitly address the social and economic welfare of farmers, particularly smallholders, who are central to these systems. While inclusive and equitable frameworks are mentioned, the discussion lacks depth on how policies like the EUDR or Ethiopia’s food systems transformation directly impact farmers' livelihoods, income stability, or market access.
For example, when we look at the EUDR’s deforestation regulations, they may impose compliance burdens on small-scale farmers in developing countries, potentially excluding them from global supply chains due to high costs or lack of resources. Similarly, Ethiopia’s efforts must ensure that agricultural policies do not disproportionately affect smallholders, who are critical to food security but often lack the capacity to adapt.
A stronger focus on farmer-centric metrics such as income levels, access to technology, and social protections and participatory evaluation involving farmers would ensure their needs are prioritized, avoiding further marginalization.