USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan

The Activity aims to address these dynamics through a series of interventions that build the capacity of the public sector and civil society, increase private sector engagement in conservation and natural resource management, and strengthen the policy and regulatory framework for conservation and natural resource management. The Activity's overall goal is to address dynamics that hinder habitat connectivity and the long-term persistence of biodiversity in Tanzania. This goal is achieved through three objectives: building the capacity of the public sector and civil society, increasing private sector engagement in conservation and natural resource management, and strengthening the policy and regulatory framework for conservation and natural resource management. The Activity's interventions are designed to be mutually reinforcing and integrated, with many cutting across several elements and addressing interrelated programming and issues as needed. The expected outcomes in each objective contribute to outcomes in other objectives as well. The Activity's results framework outlines the expected outcomes, indicators, and targets for each objective. The Activity's Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) plan is a strategic tool for monitoring performance and reporting on progress made toward achieving targets. The MEL plan relies on the systematic collection and analysis of evidence about Activity performance and impact. It incorporates a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning, and Adapting (MERLA) approach, which relies on a strong, evidence-based M&E system coupled with sound research and learning. The MERLA approach also incorporates Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) functions to facilitate useful collaboration among stakeholders that generates new knowledge and learning, contributes to topical innovations, and informs project management on adaptation opportunities to improve implementation and overall outcomes and impact. The MEL plan contains information on the Activity's goal, objectives, and key expected results, as well as a description of the Activity's learning approach, performance indicator summary matrix, data collection, analysis, and management plan, MEL staff roles and responsibilities, plans for ensuring data quality, and plans for internal assessments and evaluations. The Activity's MEL plan is broken into three sections: an overview of the Activity, its theory of change, and its results framework; monitoring, evaluation, and learning approach, Activity indicators, and performance task schedule; and detailed annexes including the theory of change graphic, data summary table, and Performance Indicator Reference Sheets (PIRS). The MEL plan is the first revision, which incorporates recommendations from the theory of change and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) workshop held in August 2021. The plan is being submitted to USAID for the implementation of the Activity's work plan beginning October 1, 2021, and throughout the life of the project. The Activity's MEL plan is designed to provide standards and guidelines for monitoring, evaluating, learning, and communicating progress toward achieving the Activity's results and objectives. It is based on a strong, evidence-based M&E system coupled with sound research and learning, and incorporates CLA functions to facilitate useful collaboration among stakeholders.