Monitoring and Evaluation Boost
Godfrey Senkaba shares career tips and good practice stories to help you master the monitoring and evaluation job and perform it to your best. In addition, I profile guests from the evaluation field to share their journeys to success.
Episodes
EP33 - Accomplish Your Year: How Evaluators Can Shape Who They Become by December
In this powerful start‑of‑year episode of the Monitoring and Evaluation Boost Podcast, host Godfrey Senkaba tackles one of the biggest challenges evaluators face - not in their projects, but in their own careers.Every January, evaluators set goals. But by December, many feel frustrated, stuck, or disappointed. Yet these are the same professionals who expertly design results frameworks, track indic
EP32 - Grounded and Growing: Lessons from AEA 2025 (Part 2)
In this second part of my reflections from the 2025 American Evaluation Association (AEA) Conference, I continue exploring what this year’s gathering revealed about the evolving role of evaluation—and what it means for us as practitioners.Building on the themes from Part 1, this episode goes deeper into the practice of evaluation. I reflect on sessions that focused on writing strong evaluation pla
EP31 - Why Evaluation Still Matters: Lessons from AEA 2025 (Part 1)
2025 has been a difficult year for many evaluators - especially those working in international development. Funding cuts, uncertainty, and shrinking scopes of work have forced many of us to pause and reflect on where our profession is headed.In this episode of the Monitoring and Evaluation Boost Podcast, I share reflections from the 2025 American Evaluation Association (AEA) Conference in Kansas C
Ep30 - Feeling Bored in Monitoring and Evaluation? Why It Happens and Practical Ways to Reignite Your Motivation
In this heartfelt and honest episode, I take you into a topic many M&E professionals experience but rarely talk about - boredom. Whether you're a data enthusiast, evaluation strategist, or new to the field, chances are you've felt stuck, disengaged, or wondered if your work still sparks joy.I unpack the 4 B’s of Boredom in M&E—Burnout, Boxed-In, Blind Spots, and Bureaucracy—and d
Ep29 - Evaluation Just Got Smarter: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Awards & What’s Ahead
In this episode of the Monitoring and Evaluation Boost Podcast, host Godfrey Senkaba dives deep into the big ideas and latest updates shaping the world of evaluation.This week’s focus? Artificial Intelligence. Specifically, how Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Claude can support - not replace - evaluators in doing faster, more efficient, and still rigorous work.He unpacks the World Ba
E28 - When the Funding Dries Up: How M&E Professionals Can Reclaim Their Careers
The international development field is facing a wave of project terminations and shrinking funding pipelines-leaving many M&E professionals in uncertainty. In this episode, host Godfrey Senkaba speaks directly to those navigating career disruption. He unpacks the concept of career resilience, introduces the idea of interdisciplinary fluency, and leads a powerful "Future Work Self" ac
E27 - The MELMASTERS Framework - A Guide for M&E Professionals to Achieve Excellence and Impact (Part 2)
In this episode of the Monitoring and Evaluation Boost Podcast, host Godfrey Senkaba concludes the exploration of the MELMASTERS Framework, a comprehensive guide designed to help M&E professionals master their craft and achieve significance.This Part 2 dives into the final components of the framework, covering:S - Systems Lifecycle: Understanding how M&E systems evolve with program stages
E26 - The MELMASTERS Framework - A Guide for M&E Professionals to Achieve Excellence and Impact (Part 1)
In this episode of the Monitoring and Evaluation Boost Podcast, host Godfrey Senkaba introduces the MELMASTERS Framework, a transformative guide designed to help M&E professionals master their craft and create lasting impact.This is Part 1 of a two-part series, where we explore the first five components of the framework:Mindset: The foundational attitude for learning and growth in MEL.Effectiv
E25 - M&E in 2025: Embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI), Innovation, and Equity
In this episode of the Monitoring and Evaluation Boost Podcast, we explore how Artificial Intelligence, cutting-edge innovations, and equity-focused approaches are shaping the M&E field in 2025. From AI-powered tools and culturally responsive methodologies to real-time data systems and developmental evaluation, we unpack the key trends driving transformation in monitoring and evaluation.Join h
E24 - Beyond the Basics: How Understanding Global Trends Can Propel Your M&E Career Forward
In this podcast, Godfrey Senkaba explores key global issues that profoundly impact the field of monitoring and evaluation (M&E). These issues include technological advancements, climate change, conflict and fragility, and the changing political and geopolitical contexts. Each of these issues presents unique challenges and complexities for M&E practitioners, ranging from assessing the effec
E23 - Persuasion Tactics: Winning Stakeholders in Monitoring & Evaluation Data Challenges
Unlock the secrets to resolving conflicts over Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) data with expert persuasion tactics in the latest episode of the monitoring and evaluation boost podcast with Godfrey Senkaba! Learn the essential persuasion tactics to navigate conflicts over M&E data with stakeholders. From active listening to evidence-based reasoning and collaborative problem-solving, discove
E22 - Gaining Stakeholder Support for Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Activities
Gaining stakeholder support is key to implementing monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities effectively. In this episode, Godfrey Senkaba, discusses the vital role of stakeholder analysis, utilizing a matrix tool to identify, understand, and engage stakeholders for optimal success in M&E activities.Follow along as Godfrey discusses how stakeholders and stakeholder analysis serve as a cor
E21 - Mastering M&E Training Workshops: 10 Tips to Plan Them Better
Mastering M&E training workshops requires thorough planning and consideration of various factors, including the facilitator, participants, logistics, and context. Godfrey Senkaba discusses the top 10 tips for you or your organizations to ensure the success of their workshops and empower participants to become more effective in monitoring and evaluating their projects. Follow along as Godfrey d
E20 - Exploring Sajilu Kamwendo's Evaluation Career: Curiosity, Patterns, and the "Made in Africa" Narratives
Godfrey Senkaba chats with Sajilu Kamwendo, the Director, Outcome, and Impact Evaluation at Mastercard Foundation. Sajilu has over 20 years of experience in program evaluation which includes work with international organizations, implementing or funding relief and development programs. Sajilu elaborates on how his passion for curiosity and patterns propelled his journey in evaluation, ultimately l
E19 - From Evaluation Volunteer to Chief Executive Officer. The Katherine Haugh Evaluation Career Path Story
Godfrey Senkaba chats with Katherine Haugh, the CEO, and founder of The Convive Collective. Katherine has over 10 years of experience in program evaluation which includes work with both local and international development organizations including USAID and United Nations. Katherine’s story is interesting, and motivating, particularly in how she turned complexity into clarity, setting forth a succes
E18 - Professional Development of M&E Staff. 10 Factors Every Manager Should Know
Godfrey Senkaba discusses his personal strategy for supporting the professional development of the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) employees. Based on his nearly 20 years of experience in the M&E field, Godfrey has developed the 3-10 Framework for M&E Staff Professional Development. This framework identifies three key focal areas and 10 factors to consider in supporting M&E staff p
E17 - Onboarding New M&E Staff: 10 Things to Do in the First 2 Weeks
Godfrey Senkaba discusses 10 must-dos for every hiring manager to successfully onboard new employees, particularly those who will perform monitoring and evaluation jobs. The tips are intended to improve the onboarding practices of hiring managers. Already 9 in 10 employees disagree that their organization does a good job onboarding new employees (Gallup.com). Tip #1. Develop and complete a pre-on
E16 - Hiring M&E Staff. Top 10 Tips for Managers - Part 2
Godfrey Senkaba discusses the last five of the top ten tips every manager should know to hire the best monitoring and evaluation, staff. Whether you are a monitoring and evaluation manager or a generalist project manager, we often must deal with organizational processes, systems, practices, and own individual choices in any hiring decisions. The following is the last set of tips to help you make a
E15 - Hiring M&E Staff. Top 10 Tips for Managers - Part 1
Godfrey Senkaba discusses five of the top ten tips every manager should know in order to hire the best monitoring and evaluation staff. Whether you are a monitoring and evaluation manager or a generalist project manager, we often must deal with organizational processes, systems, practices, and our own individual choices in any hiring decision. The following tips will help you make a good M&E S
E14 - Proposal Quality Review: 4 Key Issues and 15 Simple Tips You Must Know
Godfrey Senkaba discusses 4 key issues and over 15 Tips you must know to conduct a value-add quality review of a project proposal before submission to the funder. Whether you are internal staff or external consultants, taking a holistic approach to project proposal quality review will help you add value to both the process and product. Here are the four issues you must consider:Issue #1 Rationale.
E13 - Proposal Development: 5 Things You Must Consider Before Development a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan
Godfrey Senkaba discusses the 5 most important issues a monitoring and evaluation specialist must consider before they develop the different monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) sections, and related annexes of a project proposal. A typical project proposal requires an M&E plan or MEL Plan narrative and an Indicator Tracking Table. These should complete after gaining a full understanding
E12 - 12 Ways to Review Donor Grants Solicitation Documents through the Lens of Monitoring and Evaluation
Godfrey Senkaba discusses the 12 important issues a monitoring and evaluation specialist must look out for when reviewing donor grant Requests for Applications (RFAs) or Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) for emergency or development activities. These issues will help you understand, plan for, and design better monitoring and evaluation strategy and processes for the proposed project. The 12 i
E11 - The 7 Best Ways Monitoring and Evaluation Specialists Can Preposition for Grant Project Proposals
Godfrey Senkaba discusses the critical role for monitoring and evaluation specialists play in helping their organizations’ new business development or proposal development efforts. He outlines the 7 best tips as must-do’s for evaluation specialists during the prepositioning phase of a grant project proposal development process. The 7 tips below are discussed with practical examples: · Resear
E10 - Leading A Cause Bigger Than Self: Mariana Branco’s Evaluation Career Path Story
Godfrey Senkaba spoke with Mariana Branco, an Evaluation Specialist at the World Bank. Mariana discusses her professional life journey that is punctuated by service to others including causes that make evaluation simple, useable, and accessible. She discusses her motivations and experience helping emerging evaluators, what she has learned, and the strategies you should take to boost your evaluati
E9 - From Art Museum Exhibitions to Leading Program Evaluations: Patricia M. Shaffer’s Inspiring Career Path Story
Godfrey Senkaba spoke with Dr. Patricia Moore Shaffer, the former President of Washington Evaluators, and currently, Deputy Director of Research and Analysis for the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, DC. Dr. Shaffer reveals what attracted her to join the evaluation profession and the transferrable skills from public arts. She outlines the steps, tricks, and opportunities that have sha
E8 - Practicing Assumptions-Aware Evaluation: Apollo M. Nkwake's Career Path Story
Godfrey Senkaba spoke with Apollo Mukasa Nkwake, monitoring, evaluation, and research specialist, evaluation journal editor, and evaluation consultant. Our discussion focused on his evaluation journey from volunteering at a local nonprofit in central Uganda to evaluating global evaluation programs for large international development agencies in the United States. Apollo reveals the several tips, t
E7 - Toward Evaluation - Led Civic Technology or Civic Tech: Tim Leisman's Promising Career Path Story
Godfrey Senkaba spoke with Tim Leisman, a data-based community problem solver, and civic tech enthusiast. Only four years as an evaluator but has found interest in civic technology. But what is civic tech? how does it apply to evaluation? Through his work with the Code for Greensboro, North Carolina, USA, Tim demonstrates a good career trajectory that can inspire young, emerging and advanced evalu
E6 - Volunteering with Evaluation Networks: How it Changed Me. Khalil Bitar's Career Path Story
Godfrey Senkaba spoke with Khalil Bitar, Outgoing Chair, EvalYouth Global Network, Co-leader, Eval4Action. The premise of their conversation was Khalil’s transition from the leadership of the EvalYouth, a global network he helped to co-found. We discussed everything! From the nuts and bolts of Khalil’s 12 years' evaluation experience, and interests. See the discussion outline below:[00:34] He
E5 - Keeping up With Trends: Holta Trandafili's Evaluation Career Path Story
Godfrey Senkaba spoke with Holta Trandafili, World Vision’s Research, Learning, and Analytics Manager. The premise of their conversation was Holta recently celebrated 20 years of work as an evaluator. We discussed everything! From her interests in evaluation; formative years as evaluator; biggest challenge and opportunity; progression through evaluation “ranks” to lessons learned. Additionally, we
E4 - My Monitoring and Evaluation Career Story: Creating Opportunities Where None Exists
Godfrey Senkaba – Shares his monitoring and evaluation career trajectory, spanning over 15 years. He specifically discusses what he has learned performing the evaluation job in different settings, for different organizations, and applying different sets of skills, and how to discover opportunities to support your career growth. [00:38] Hello, everyone! Why I share my career story.[01:58] How I lev
E3 - Monitoring and Evaluation Career Growth: 4 Practical Tips for Choosing Your Next Job
Godfrey Senkaba – discusses four important factors to consider when deciding if the next job will take you to a higher level in your monitoring and evaluation career. [00:34] Hello, everyone![01:02] Job Title! Sorry, consider the job description, not the job title.[02:34] Your personal profile. Which of these 3 main career paths for monitoring and evaluation professionals does it fit: generalist,
E2 - 5 Top Reasons for the Different Monitoring and Evaluation Jobs' Minimum Requirements
Godfrey Senkaba - discusses the top factors that inform the nature and type of minimum requirements for Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Jobs. These factors range from the organization, job, and profile of the position holder. If you are interested or preparing to sit for a monitoring and evaluation job interview, understand these factors to help you prepare for likely interview questions regardi
E1 - Life Experience: The Best Training You Ever Needed to Begin a Monitoring and Evaluation Career
Godfrey Senkaba – discusses why having no formal experience should not limit your interest in a monitoring and evaluation career. He provides everyday life activities that provide the opportunity to build tacit knowledge and skills transferable to a formal monitoring and evaluation job. Support the showGodfrey Senkaba, M&E Boost Podcast.
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