Eleanor Hazell: Operations Lead

I have been working in M&E for the past 13 years in a variety of roles (internal M&E officer for an NGO, evaluation consultant and M&E manager), through which I have gained insight into M&E issues and challenges from a variety of perspectives.

I lead the M&E division at JET Education Services (JET) - a South African NPO, which was one of the first organisations to undertake evaluations (of education initiatives) in South Africa, is one of the largest NPOs in the education sector in South Africa today and an active member of the National Association of Social Change Entities in Education (NASCEE) and the Independent Philanthropy Association of South Africa (IPASA).

At JET, I oversee a range of M&E projects and programmes, manage a diverse team, mentor emerging evaluators and contribute to the jetstreaming transformation and capacity building initiative https://www.jet.org.za/jetstreaming I have a strong academic background, having studied M&E at Master level, presented on M&E at conferences, published in journals and am a reviewer for evaluation and education journals. I have been a SAMEA member since 2009 and have participated in four conferences (2011, 2013, 2015 & 2019) as well as convening the education TIG (no longer active). Currently I am a member of the Western Cape M&E CoP and the convening committee of the EduCOVID TIG.

COVID-19 has disrupted the way we live and work. M&E practitioners need to adapt to new ways of working (remotely, online and safely), respond to a rapidly changing environment, work smartly and provide rapid feedback, and ensure that our work contributes to social good and social justice. The methods and tools we learnt about in the past are often not suited to the realities we face. We need to be receptive to new learning, share, collaborate, and develop new ones – made in South Africa.

In the next three years SAMEA needs to 1) remain relevant and connected to members during these times – via the use of technology and online tools - the eduCOVID TIG is a promising practice in this regard. 2) link M&E practitioners to new methods and tools which are suitable for our context and challenges, and support the development of homegrown ones. 3) facilitate greater knowledge sharing; for example by curating resources and developing a repository of local evaluation tools/findings/learnings. 4) be a driving force for evaluation professionalization whilst championing diversity and inclusion: i.e. via capacity building - including mentorship - for emerging and emergent evaluators, and recognition of evaluation as a profession.

I would bring my varied knowledge, experience and skills to the SAMEA board, specifically: M&E at implementation, management and strategic levels in the NPO/education sector; mentorship and development of capacity-building initiatives; and a strong academic background. I would also bring the backing and support infrastructure of my organization - JET. Vote for me to ensure that SAMEA 1) remains relevant in a COVID and post-COVID world, 2) supports M&E practitioners to access and develop relevant methods, tools and knowledge and 3) champions professionalization and inclusion.