Our Latest Thinking
Navigating MEAL in Fragile Contexts: Lessons from Somalia's Federal Architecture
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning in fragile states is not simply a technical exercise β it is a political, logistical, and ethical challenge of the highest order. Somalia's federal architecture, with five Federal Member States operating under varied security conditions, access constraints, and institutional capacities, demands that MEAL practitioners adapt standard frameworks in ways that international manuals rarely anticipate.
Drawing on 10+ years of primary data collection across all Somali regions, this article examines three critical adaptations every MEAL team working in Somalia should prioritise: remote data verification protocols, community-led AAP mechanisms that function without reliable digital infrastructure, and the imperative of enumerator safety planning as a core methodological consideration β not an afterthought.
The Role of Independent Verification in Donor Accountability: Somalia's Experience
As donor scrutiny of programme results intensifies, independent TPM is no longer optional. MARCO examines what makes effective TPM in complex, multi-state environments.
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Girls' Education in Emergencies: Key Findings from Baseline Surveys in South Central Somalia
What do the data actually say about barriers to girls' school retention in conflict-affected areas? Findings from MARCO's GERSI baseline survey in 8 districts.
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Building Local M&E Capacity: A Practical Framework for Somali NGOs
How do you build durable MEAL capacity in organisations with limited budgets, high staff turnover, and competing operational pressures? MARCO's step-by-step approach.
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Value Chain Analysis in Post-Conflict Markets: The Somalia Livestock Sector
Somalia's livestock sector is the backbone of its economy, yet consistently underserved by development programming. MARCO's market systems analysis reveals the structural constraints inhibiting recovery.
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From Data to Decisions: How Evidence-Based Advisory Changes Policy Outcomes in Fragile States
The gap between evidence and policy decisions is wide in fragile states. MARCO examines what it takes to close it β and why most advisory fails at the last mile.
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ClimateβConflict Nexus: Assessing Livelihood Resilience in Somalia's Pastoral Communities
The intersection of recurrent drought, conflict, and displacement creates compounding vulnerability. MARCO's assessment framework for measuring resilience in pastoral and agro-pastoral contexts.
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