Measuring What Matters - Measuring What Matters

Measuring What Matters, Learning What Works

A Landscape Assessment of MEL and Investment Directions in India

India’s civil society is asking more of MEL and getting more from it. Across the country, organizations are reshaping how they learn, adapt, and stay accountable. These insights trace that journey: what’s changing, what’s working, and what’s next in building systems that learn, respond, and grow with purpose.

From Compliance to Catalysis

More CSOs are reimagining MEL—not just as reporting, but as a lever for reflection, innovation, and intentional growth

Unlocking MEL’s Untapped Value

The systems exist, but their true power lies in enabling learning, decision-making, and adaptation—not just reporting

Seeds of Shift, Signs of Strength

Lean MEL tools, community feedback loops, and peer learning networks signal a deeper shift toward internal accountability

Evaluation is Rising
Learning is Ready

MEL’s core pillars—evaluation and learning—are gaining traction, but need stronger scaffolding to deliver transformation

Investment Unlocks Impact

Data shows a clear pattern: as MEL budgets increase, challenges decrease. Even modest investments can build resilient systems

Ingenuity in Action

From WhatsApp-based tracking to peer-led systems, grassroots organizations are rewriting the MEL playbook with creativity and intent

Rethinking MEL Finance

Funders are now exploring pooled grants, embedded support, and shared infrastructure to power long-term MEL capacity

Intent to Institution

Many CSOs see MEL as core to mission—but structured systems are still catching up to the ambition

Building from Within

Through case studies, reflections, and cross-team learning, organizations are embedding MEL into daily cycles

The Capacity Continuum

While some lead with integration, others face basic infrastructure gaps—highlighting the need for support across the spectrum

Culture Over Tools

Technology adoption is growing, but true transformation comes from a culture that embraces data-driven decisions

Turning Data into Direction

CSOs are collecting data. Now, they’re beginning to build the skills and systems to translate it into action

Partnership, Not Just Protocol

Funders are recognizing that sustained MEL capacity requires trust, long-term support, and shared goals

Grounded in Community Wisdom

When MEL centers community voice, it becomes a tool for accountability, not extraction

Participation is Taking Root

81.8% of CSOs share data with communities, and momentum is building toward deeper engagement and co-owned insight

Access is Power

Organizations are mixing digital and analogue tools to include those often left out—bridging literacy, language, and tech gaps

Story as Signal

CSOs are piloting visuals, storytelling, and community-led mapping, making evidence more local and lived

From Counting Women to Understanding Power

Some CSOs are moving beyond disaggregated data—embedding gender analysis into the heart of MEL

New Voices, New Vision

Younger staff are leading MEL’s evolution—bringing tech fluency, energy, and a commitment to collective learning

Redefining Success, Together

Democratizing MEL means shifting who defines success and ensuring the people closest to the work lead the way forward

Systems are in Place
Strategy is Catching Up

72.6% of CSOs collect data, and the next frontier is using it to drive learning, adaptation, and strategic choices

Credits:

Creative Direction: Anubrata Basu

Technical Design: Tarun Pathak

Development: Abhishek Kumar