Approach, Processes and Methods: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) support to the Table Mountain Water Source Areas Partnership project

This document outlines the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework for the WWF South Africa project 'Protecting Critical Groundwater' within the Table Mountain Water Source Areas Partnership. The approach emphasizes real-time evaluation and adaptive 'double-loop' learning to support the sustainable management of groundwater and the development of a multi-stakeholder governance model for Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs).

• The project employs a Real Time Evaluation (RTE) approach to allow for course correction during implementation. This method includes five dimensions: current data collection, rapid reporting, multiple implementation points, support for three types of learning (single, double, and triple-loop), and the engagement of stakeholders in dialogue for action planning.
• The MEL strategy prioritizes 'double-loop' or adaptive learning, which uses monitoring outcomes to reflect on and potentially modify project goals and objectives. This is intended to increase the effectiveness of governance projects by making them more responsive to ground-level realities.
• The project's Theory of Change (ToC) aims to establish effective joint management systems for groundwater in the Table Mountain Strategic Water Source Area (TM-SWSA) by 2022. This involves nine interconnected elements, including awareness raising in schools, faith communities, and business; the creation of citizen-led Groundwater Monitoring Networks; an open-source database; a public advocacy campaign; a Danish learning exchange; policy and governance reviews; and the development of the TM-WSA Partnership.
• The MEL process utilizes a 'spine map' to document the project-in-action. This diagram serves as a real-time account of role-players, communication styles, and operating structures, acting as a baseline to test the Theory of Change against the actual implementation process.
• The MEL framework is designed to align with multiple external and internal standards, specifically the January 2018 evaluation guidelines of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Danida), WWF's strategic review, and the emerging MEL framework for WWF's work on partnerships in SWSAs.
• Several risks to effective MEL have been identified, including the short project timeframe relative to the complexity of social and governance processes, the use of multiple outsourced institutions without a history of collaboration, and the possibility that some role-players may not recognize the importance of MEL.

APA

Wilson, J., Soal, S., & Burt, J. (2021). Approach, Processes and Methods: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) support to the Table Mountain Water Source Areas Partnership project. WWF South Africa. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/8_annexure_8__appendix_a_mel_approach_processes_and_methods.pdf

Chicago

Wilson, Jessica, Sue Soal, and Jane Burt. Approach, Processes and Methods: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) support to the Table Mountain Water Source Areas Partnership project. WWF South Africa, 2021. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/8_annexure_8__appendix_a_mel_approach_processes_and_methods.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Wilson |first1=Jessica |last2=Soal |first2=Sue |last3=Burt |first3=Jane |title=Approach, Processes and Methods: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) support to the Table Mountain Water Source Areas Partnership project |publisher=WWF South Africa |date=4 May 2021 |url=https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/8_annexure_8__appendix_a_mel_approach_processes_and_methods.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wilson2021approach, author = {Wilson, Jessica and Soal, Sue and Burt, Jane}, title = {{Approach, Processes and Methods: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) support to the Table Mountain Water Source Areas Partnership project}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, year = {2021}, month = may, url = {https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/8_annexure_8__appendix_a_mel_approach_processes_and_methods.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }