The Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs of Choosing an M&E Platform

The Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs of Choosing an M&E Platform

Published on: Jan 11 2016 by Guest Writer - 1 Comment
At the recent MERL Tech conference, Tania Lee (Caktus Group), Tom Walker (Engine Room), Laura Walker McDonald (SIMLab), and Lynnae Day (Oxfam America) led a session called, “The Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs of Choosing...
We Are Coming Full Circle From AOL to Facebook: What Can We Learn?

We Are Coming Full Circle From AOL to Facebook: What Can We Learn?

Published on: Jan 08 2016 by Josh Woodard - 8 Comments
A Quartz study from last year, building off of previous findings from Helani Galpaya and Christoph Stork, reported that majorities of people in the world’s 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 7th most populous nations agreed with the statement...
What If Everyone Had Free 2G Mobile Internet Access?

What If Everyone Had Free 2G Mobile Internet Access?

Published on: Jan 06 2016 by Steve Song - 6 Comments
Imagine a world where all phones were automatically connected to the Internet, at no charge. Is this an idle fantasy? The current worldwide debate about Zero-Rating and Network Neutrality has brought the issue of affordable Internet...
Do ICTs Make Evaluation More Inclusive Or More Extractive?

Do ICTs Make Evaluation More Inclusive Or More Extractive?

Published on: Jan 04 2016 by Linda Raftree - 1 Comment
ICTs can help make evaluation more inclusive, yet they also bring new challenges and new kinds of inequities and exclusion that we need to be aware of and solve for. Evaluations that address equity issues or that aim to...
Using Smartphones to Fight Africa’s Second Greatest Killer

Using Smartphones to Fight Africa’s Second Greatest Killer

Published on: Dec 30 2015 by Guest Writer - Comments Off on Using Smartphones to Fight Africa’s Second Greatest Killer
Want a fun statistic to share at the watercooler? In Rwanda, a very safe country by regional standards, you are 365 times more likely to be killed in a traffic related death than in the United Kingdom. Don’t do any research...
Introducing DemTools 2.0: Technology to Transform Global Politics

Introducing DemTools 2.0: Technology to Transform Global Politics

Published on: Dec 28 2015 by Guest Writer - Comments Off on Introducing DemTools 2.0: Technology to Transform Global Politics
Internet access and powerful communication technologies are spreading around the world at a extraordinary rate, transforming the way citizens live and interact with each other. With the many benefits that citizens experience...
Can Monitoring Drive a MERL-Led Future?

Can Monitoring Drive a MERL-Led Future?

Published on: Dec 25 2015 by Guest Writer - Comments Off on Can Monitoring Drive a MERL-Led Future?
Angus Deaton, the economist and noted aid critic, was recently awarded the Nobel Prize in economics. In a speech following the award, AFP News reported that Deaton expressed “great sadness regarding the enormous amount...
7 Tips for Better Digital M&E in Sustainable Development

7 Tips for Better Digital M&E in Sustainable Development

Published on: Dec 21 2015 by Guest Writer - Comments Off on 7 Tips for Better Digital M&E in Sustainable Development
With the landmark UN Sustainable Development Summit over, the discussion is now shifting to the question of how to operationalize the 17 ambitious goals in the Agenda 2030. One of the key challenges will be how to measure...
Could Equity Crowdfunding Be a Pathway from Poverty?

Could Equity Crowdfunding Be a Pathway from Poverty?

Published on: Dec 18 2015 by Josh Woodard - Comments Off on Could Equity Crowdfunding Be a Pathway from Poverty?
Recently, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission adopted new rules that will open up crowdfunding equity investments to anyone. Previously such investments had only been accessible to so-called accredited...