Many local NGOs write an M&E plan because the donor asks for one, and then file it away. A good MEAL plan (monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning) is, on the contrary, a management tool: it states who measures what, when and how, and what is done with the results. Here are the eight sections that make it credible and usable.
1. A summary of the project logic
One page is enough: the theory of change or a summary of the logframe, so that each indicator is clearly linked to a result. If the link is not obvious, the indicator is probably unnecessary.
2. The indicator matrix
This is the heart of the plan. For each indicator:
| Column | What it should contain |
|---|---|
| Definition | Numerator, denominator, unit of measure |
| Baseline | Value, date and source (or planned measurement date) |
| Targets | By period (quarter, year) |
| Source and method | Registers, DHIS2, survey, observation |
| Frequency | Monthly, quarterly, midterm, endline |
| Responsible | A specific position, not "the team" |
| Disaggregation | Sex, age, health zone, disability where relevant |
3. Indicator reference sheets
For key indicators, a detailed sheet prevents differing interpretations between teams and between reporting periods: precise definition, calculation formula, known limitations, worked example.
4. Data flow
A simple diagram: from the health facility or community health volunteer register all the way to the donor report, with the time frame for each step. This is often where delays and double counting hide.
5. Data quality assurance
Specify how you check data quality: supportive supervision, recounts on a sample of registers, data quality assessments (DQAs) at fixed intervals, automated checks in mobile data collection tools. Donors are paying increasing attention to this.
6. Planned evaluations
Baseline study, midterm evaluation, final evaluation: for each one, the main evaluation questions, the type of methodology, the timeline, the budget and whether it is internal or external.
7. Accountability to affected communities
How can beneficiaries give feedback or make a complaint, including confidentially? Suggestion boxes, a telephone hotline, community meetings, trusted focal points. Also state how sensitive complaints, particularly those related to sexual exploitation and abuse, are handled and by whom.
8. Learning and data use
This is the section most often forgotten. Plan quarterly data reviews with the team, a short format for feeding results back to health authorities and communities, and a simple rule: every review produces at least one written decision.
Right-sizing: for a project under USD 100,000, a MEAL plan of 8 to 12 pages with 8 to 15 indicators is generally sufficient. Beyond that, the data collection burden quickly exceeds the team's capacity.
Support for your MEAL plan
Axiom Santé develops and revises MEAL plans, trains teams and supports the roll-out of data collection tools. Let's talk about your project.
Read also: 7 common logframe mistakes.