As the partnership between the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) intensifies, another session of Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Workshop and Coaching on Simple Measurement of Indicators for Learning and Evidence-based Reporting (SMILER), was conducted at the Em Manor Hotel and Convention Center, Cotabato City on May 16-17, 2023.

The activity covered topics on MEAL Policies and Procedures, MEAL System on SMILER and System Establishment for fiscal year 2024, and Data Management Capacity Building.

Workshop outputs from the first SMILER Session was presented, followed by discussions of the identified challenges and identification of possible solutions, development of the MHSD’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework, development of a stakeholder communication plan, and the development of an action plan to complete the MHSD MEAL and M&E system using the CRS SMILER approach and tools.

The two-day workshop session were highly interactive through various approaches, such as plenary discussion and breakout sessions, which the participants, composed of the whole members of the Monitoring and Evaluation Division, division and section heads, and technical staff, effectively engaged in.

The activity jumped off from the first workshop focused on the identification of the M&E roles and responsibilities and challenges, allowing all divisions in the ministry to level off with their perceived expected roles and responsibilities of the M&E Division (MED).

The CRS and the MHSD started their formal partnership in 2022 by signing a one-year MOU, extended for another year until 2024 for the development of the Human Settlement Management Manual which aims to develop a standardized procedure for implementing housing and resettlement projects in the Bangsamoro.