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Meet Shrija, an Associate Consultant at Athena Infonomics in our Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL). Her journey started in public health, but as she delved deeper into gender and program management, she recognized the critical role of MEL in driving impactful, data-driven decisions. With experience spanning multiple sectors, from gender to sustainable agriculture, Shrija’s work is rooted in creating evidence-based strategies that adapt to the unique needs of each community. Read on to know more about her inspiring journey and approach to making a difference.
Shrija (S): My aspirations encompass a broad spectrum of sectors, starting with Gender and Women Empowerment. Here, my goal is to make a substantial contribution to gender-related matters. Therefore, I aspire to become a prominent advocate for gender-sensitive policies, which may include getting involved in projects with a scope of collaboration with government agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders to influence and shape policies that promote gender equality. Additionally, I want to work towards representing Athena at global gender conferences or working directly on gender programs in different countries. I also aim to engage in projects focused on child welfare, education, and nutrition to create a nurturing environment for children to thrive. Mental health is another critical area of concern area of concern for me, and I plan to participate in projects addressing mental health issues and enhancing access to mental health services. Moreover, I seek opportunities to work on projects that leverage technology to establish interlinkages between different sectors effectively.
S: My shift from working in Public Health to focusing on Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) was not so much a departure as it was an evolution of my role and interests. While working as a Program Consultant for Gender in Jhpiego under the USAID-funded MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership: India-Yash project, I managed the gender component, addressing crucial issues like gender-based violence (GBV) and child marriage. The project, which supported family planning (FP) and reproductive health (RH) for marginalized youth in states like Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, I was involved in program management and strategy development but gradually was deeply involved in MEL practices alongside these responsibilities.
One of the critical turning points in my career was realizing the importance of MEL as I recognized that while developing effective strategies and implementing programs is critical, understanding how and why these interventions work or fail is equally vital. Through my involvement in MEL practices within the project, I observed how continuous monitoring, strategic evaluation, and real-time learning were crucial for adapting interventions to meet the dynamic needs of communities.
MEL not only ensures accountability and transparency but also provides the evidence necessary to assess the effectiveness of a program and make data-driven decisions.
For instance, in the MOMENTUM project, MEL played a pivotal role in tracking the impact of our gender-focused interventions, allowing us to fine-tune strategies in response to evolving challenges in FP/RH and GBV prevention. MEL also helped in assessing the sustainability of the programs and identifying areas where capacity building was needed.
Transitioning into my current role as an Associate Consultant in Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) at Athena Infonomics has greatly enriched my perspective on impact and realist evaluations.
Working on a project evaluation across India and Vietnam, and now engaging with the impact evaluation of a project in another region, has given me a deeper understanding of how regional disparities shape project outcomes. This role has allowed me to adjust our approaches based on the unique contexts of each country, ensuring that projects are relevant to both national and community needs.
Impact evaluation is fundamental to assessing whether initiatives achieve their intended outcomes, particularly in areas like capacity building, environmental sustainability, and policy influence. It provides stakeholders with tangible evidence of a project’s contributions to broader global challenges, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). I've now seen firsthand how funds can drive significant changes in addressing pressing global issues like climate resilience and food security.
Realist evaluation, in contrast, goes deeper into understanding the how and why behind these results. By focusing on the Context, Mechanisms, and Outcomes (CMO) framework, realist evaluations help explore the specific conditions under which interventions succeed or fail. Realist evaluation is indispensable for capturing the nuanced, context-specific factors that influence project success. This methodology has proven essential in tailoring interventions to the realities of local environments and ensuring that research-driven solutions are both practical and impactful.
Ultimately, my transition into the field of MEL allowed me to influence not just one aspect of development projects but the entire program lifecycle. By employing rigorous evaluation techniques such as contribution analysis and realist evaluation, I could offer actionable insights that enhance the effectiveness of interventions. This holistic approach to program evaluation has not only enhanced the quality of the projects I work on but has also reaffirmed my belief in the power of evidence-based strategies to create sustainable and scalable development solutions.
S: Working across different sectors presents a dynamic, multifaceted experience that comes with both advantages and challenges. One of the most rewarding aspects of this kind of work is the exposure to a variety of issues and solutions that might not otherwise intersect. For instance, moving from public health projects to areas like environmental sustainability or economic development provides a broader understanding of how different sectors are interconnected. Each sector brings its unique context, challenges, and potential for innovation, which fosters a richer learning experience. This cross-sectoral exposure enhances my problem-solving abilities by allowing me to draw parallels between different fields and apply lessons from one area to another. The diversity also keeps the work engaging, as I am constantly learning and adapting to new information, regulatory frameworks, and stakeholder needs.
One of the key pros of working across sectors is the opportunity for collaboration and innovation. Sectors like public health, gender, environment, and education are often deeply intertwined, with advances in one area supporting progress in others. For example, I’ve seen how access to sustainable agricultural practices directly impacts livelihoods. By working across different sectors, I am able to facilitate multidisciplinary approaches that can lead to more comprehensive and sustainable solutions to complex challenges.
Furthermore, exposure to diverse stakeholders ranging from policymakers and government agencies to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community-based groups enhances my ability to engage with and understand different perspectives, ultimately leading to better project outcomes.
However, working across sectors also presents several challenges. Each sector has its own set of regulations, priorities, and expectations, which can make navigating multiple fields complex. For instance, in the field of environmental research, policy regulations may differ significantly from those in public health or education, requiring a deep understanding of each sector's specific legal and operational framework. This complexity can be time-consuming and may slow down decision-making processes, especially when there is a need to balance competing priorities across sectors. Additionally, funding structures and sources often vary, which can make securing resources for cross-sector projects more difficult.
Another potential downside is the need for constant adaptation. While moving between sectors provides valuable learning opportunities, it also requires a high degree of flexibility. For individuals who prefer to specialize deeply in one area, this can be overwhelming. Juggling multiple sectors means that it is often necessary to develop a surface-level understanding of several fields, rather than achieving a deep specialization in one. This can sometimes lead to a feeling of being spread too thin, as there may not be enough time to delve into the complexities of each sector thoroughly.
In conclusion, working across sectors is both a rewarding and challenging experience. The opportunity to collaborate on multifaceted issues and contribute to innovative solutions makes the work intellectually stimulating. However, it requires constant learning, adaptability, and the ability to manage the complexities that arise from navigating different regulatory, funding, and stakeholder landscapes. Despite the challenges, the broader perspective gained through cross-sector work significantly enhances the ability to address complex global challenges in a more holistic manner.
S: One field experience that has truly stayed with me is my involvement in a project, which spanned both India and Vietnam. During my visits to both India and Vietnam, the unique environmental challenges, local community and governmental dynamics provided invaluable insights into how research can directly influence policy and practice.
In India, while assessing projects aimed at enhancing sustainable agricultural practices, I observed firsthand how local communities were engaged not just as beneficiaries but as active participants in the evaluation process. This participatory approach aligns closely with Athena’s philosophy of MEL, which emphasizes not only accountability but also learning and adaptation throughout the project lifecycle. By involving community members in the evaluation discussions, we gathered rich qualitative data that illustrated the real-world impact of the interventions on farmers’ livelihoods. For instance, farmers shared how access to new agricultural technologies improved their crop yields and income, but also expressed concerns about sustainability and market access, allowing us to refine our strategies accordingly.
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In Vietnam, we encountered a similar situation where local agricultural systems were being threatened by climate-induced challenges. For example, we found that just the community engagement and local governance structures significantly affected the projects’ sustainability and scalability. These insights reinforced the idea that successful interventions must consider the broader socio-political context in which they operate, an approach that is central to Athena’s MEL strategy.
What made these experiences stand out was how they demonstrated the value of stakeholder engagement at every stage, from data collection to the practical implementation of solutions.
The Athena approach to MEL was not just about monitoring outcomes but about fostering continuous learning and adaptability in the field. This emphasis on flexibility allowed the projects to evolve based on real-time feedback from the communities, ensuring that the research had a lasting and meaningful impact. Moreover, witnessing the dedication and resilience of the local communities in both India and Vietnam left a lasting impression on me.
Their willingness to share their stories and insights underscored the importance of creating an inclusive MEL process that prioritizes local voices. By valuing these perspectives, we not only enhance the relevance and effectiveness of our interventions but also empower communities to take ownership of their development journeys. This holistic understanding of the intersection between evaluation and real-world application has inspired my ongoing commitment to fostering impactful projects that resonate with local needs and aspirations.
