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 dive into real causes of disengagement, from rigid structures to lost purpose. You’ll also hear inspiring ref...
Jun 25, 2025•36 min•Season 10Ep. 30
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 Bank and IFAD’s guidance note on integrating AI thoughtfully in evaluations, spotlighting practical ...
May 30, 2025•24 min•Season 10Ep. 29
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" activity to help you map your next move. Whether you're between roles or seeking to future-proof your career, th...
Apr 26, 2025•20 min
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 and organizational strategies. T - Teamwork : Building collaborative, strength-based teams that...
Jan 23, 2025•29 min•Season 10Ep. 27
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. Effectiveness : Ensuring M&E systems lead to real, positive change. Learning Systems : Turning dat...
Jan 16, 2025•29 min•Season 10Ep. 26
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 host Godfrey Senkaba and co-host Jessica , an AI-powered assistant , as they discuss practical exam...
Jan 05, 2025•14 min•Season 9Ep. 25
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 effectiveness of humanitarian assistance in conflict-affected areas to adapting to the changing political...
Apr 30, 2024•30 min•Season 8Ep. 24
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, discover strategies to achieve consensus and drive better outcomes in your M&E activities. Tune in now ...
Mar 23, 2024•35 min•Season 7Ep. 23
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 cornerstone for driving M&E initiatives forward effectively. Below is the discussion outline: [00:...
Mar 05, 2024•27 min•Season 7Ep. 22
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 defines M&E training workshops, workshop formats, purposes, benefits, and how to better plan for ...
Feb 16, 2024•25 min•Season 7Ep. 21
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 leading him from a novice to the position of directing impact evaluation at the MasterCard Foundation...
Feb 08, 2024•46 min•Season 6Ep. 20
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 successful evaluation career. From doing intern and volunteer roles to monitoring and evaluation speciali...
Jun 26, 2023•32 min•Season 6Ep. 19
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 professional development. They include: External M&E environment which impacts the M&E work o...
Jan 13, 2023•29 min•Season 5Ep. 18
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-onboarding checklist Tip #2. Scope the issues to address during onboarding Tip #3. Develop and execu...
Dec 31, 2022•23 min•Season 4Ep. 17
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 good M&E Staff hire. Tip #6. A good oral interview by an M&E candidate may not translate in...
Jan 29, 2022•22 min•Season 4Ep. 16
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 Staff hire: Tip #1. Never hire a monitoring and evaluation staff without first confirming the need/s ...
Jan 20, 2022•20 min•Season 4Ep. 15
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. You should the why a quality review of the project proposal is needed and be sure to align your ch...
Dec 04, 2021•20 min•Season 3Ep. 14
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 of the following issues: · Role and Responsibilities, · Technical design, · Stakeholders and partne...
Oct 11, 2021•22 min•Season 3Ep. 13
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 issues focus organization’s ability to design a competitive proposal, monitoring and evaluation requi...
Jul 26, 2021•27 min•Season 3Ep. 12
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: · Research the donor M&E interests and/or priorities. · Conduct an Organization DME Capacity assessment · Revi...
Jun 30, 2021•14 min•Season 3Ep. 11
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 evaluation career. Below are the specific topics discussed: · Child and youthhood choices and career decision...
Apr 22, 2021•37 min•Season 2Ep. 10
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 shaped her career including the life-changing experience of serving as President of Washington Evaluato...
Apr 08, 2021•42 min•Season 2Ep. 9
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, tricks, and opportunities that have shaped his career, made him successful, and many of these may wor...
Apr 01, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 8
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 evaluators. See the discussion outline below: [00:34] Hello, everyone! Introducing Tim Leisman. [02:10] B...
Mar 15, 2021•27 min•Season 2Ep. 7
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] Hello, everyone! Introducing Khalil Bitar, Outgoing Chair, EvalYouth Global Network [01:35] Background in ...
Feb 19, 2021•45 min•Season 2Ep. 6
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 discussed the changing scope of, and trends in monitoring and evaluation, and how to adapt and grow...
Feb 10, 2021•34 min•Season 2Ep. 5
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 leveraged undergraduate studies to get my first evaluation job. [08:24] How I amplified my first job e...
Jan 31, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 4
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, methodological expert, or sector technical specialist? [05:43] Organizational profile. Do their m...
Jan 17, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 3
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 regarding job context, organizational interests, and job performance expectations. If you are already perfo...
Jan 11, 2021•12 min•Season 1Ep. 2
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. Godfrey Senkaba, M&E Boost Podcast.
Jan 04, 2021•19 min•Season 1Ep. 1
