MEAL for anticipatory action guidelines

Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) are indispensable elements of any anticipatory action programme or project. When MEAL is integrated from the outset, it can generate evidence to help make anticipatory action more effective, ensure that we learn about what works and what doesn’t, and put in place the processes that engage programme participants meaningfully, and at all relevant stages. 

These guidelines, developed by the MEAL Practitioners’ Group, provide interested readers with quick answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about MEAL for anticipatory action. What’s different about it – and why can’t we just do what we usually do in our projects? Which types of results are typically assessed? Which methods are the most appropriate? What can go wrong with MEAL for anticipatory action – and how can we avoid repeating common mistakes?