DATE AND TIME
location
200 12th Street South 15th Floor Arlington, VA 22202
EVENT SUMMARY
agenda
Monitoring in international development is widespread, but often ill-defined and has rarely been subject to intellectual inquiry. Transparency, adaptability, and data-driven decision making are increasing priorities for international development donors, implementers, and third-party monitoring firms. The management, technological, and political realities require and deserve collaborative scrutiny to improve the state of the field.
Please join us for a day of discussion to elevate the practice of monitoring and promote improved cohesion between the monitoring, evaluation, and learning in international development.
01:00 pm | Arrival and Check-in | |
01:30 pm | Welcome/Opening Remarks | Keith Brown | President | MSI, A Tetra Tech Company |
01:40 pm | Keynote Address | Ann Calvaresi Barr | Inspector General | USAID |
02:10 pm | Discussion Panel: Frontiers in Data Collection and Management: Elevating the Discipline of Monitoring | Moderator: Lala Kasimova | MSI, A Tetra Tech Company Kathryn Rzeszut | Integrity Sonia Moldovan | Mercy Corps Travis Mayo | USAID/PPL |
03:20 pm | Coffee Break | |
03:35 pm | Presentation Panel: Building a Common Monitoring Toolbox | Moderator: Michelle Adams-Matson | MSI, A Tetra Tech Company Tim Shifflett | MSI, A Tetra Tech Company Johannes Hoogeveen | World Bank Sloan Mann | Development Transformations Josh Mandell | IBM |
04:45 pm | Closing Remarks | Larry Cooley | President Emeritus | MSI, A Tetra Tech Company |
05:00 pm | Reception |
TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING
MEET OUR PANELISTS
DISCUSSION PANEL
Frontiers in Data Collection and Management: Elevating the Discipline of Monitoring
PANELIST BIOGRAPHIES
Lala Kasimova is an M&E specialist in MSI’s Strategy, Evaluation and Analysis practice area with ten years of research experience. Ms. Kasimova has a strong background in research methods, reporting, and managing learning outcomes. Currently she serves as evaluation specialist for a large-scale final performance evaluation of the Office of Transition Initiatives’ 10-year program in Pakistan. She supported USAID’s largest M&E support contract for USAID/Pakistan under the Evaluations and Assessments and the Performance Monitoring and Learning units, managing a range of analytical assignments and third-party monitoring activities. Prior to this, she was engaged with the firm’s third-party monitoring efforts in Sudan as M&E Knowledge Manager; this role emphasized her skills in data collection, analysis, and client reporting to support learning and evidence-based decision-making in a conflict-sensitive environment. In 2016, MSI completed the Evaluation Utilization Study for USAID’s PPL Bureau, under which she supported the study team as both researcher and team manager. She supported various USAID Missions and USAID’s strategic planning and policy guidance efforts in a program management role for various support mechanisms between 2012 and 2016. Lala is fluent in Russian and German, and has conversational Azerbaijani and Arabic. She holds a B.A. from Cornell University and is pursuing a master’s degree from The George Washington University.
Kathryn Rzeszut is a Senior Expert in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) who recently relocated to Integrity’s Washington, DC office after spending four years working on the Syria crisis response. As a conflict and stabilisation specialist, she focuses primarily on MEL in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS). Between 2014-2019, she led Integrity’s Third-Party Monitoring of a multi-donor security & justice stabilisation programme in Syria. In 2017-18, she led ICAI’s Review of DFID’s Humanitarian Support in Syria. Prior to joining Integrity, she spent nearly four years as a Research Fellow at the University of York’s Post-war Reconstruction & Development Unit (PRDU) where she was responsible for the management and expert delivery of applied research projects and evaluations. This position provided her with broad cross-sectoral experience in thematic areas as varied as aid financing and effectiveness, disaster risk reduction, education in emergencies, gender, governance, and resilience. Kathryn has worked in Afghanistan, Lebanon and Turkey amongst other countries in Central Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Africa. She holds a BA in Political Science from Pennsylvania State University and an MA in Post-war Recovery Studies from the University of York.
Sonia Moldovan is the Senior Technical Lead for Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) at Mercy Corps. She is a development practitioner with more than a decade of experience implementing MEL systems, developing learning agendas and managing evaluations. At Mercy Corps Ms. Moldovan leads the MEL team, provides technical assistance to program teams, conducts annual learning workshops and contributes to thought leadership on resilience measurement and adaptive management. At RTI Ms. Moldovan developed the governance learning agenda, designed and led evaluations including a developmental evaluation for the Aspen Institute and impact evaluations in Uganda and Indonesia. Ms. Moldovan managed MEL teams for USAID and DFID-funded program in Afghanistan, South Sudan and the Sahel and trained teams on qualitative approached including outcome mapping and Most Significant Change. She holds a Master of Economic Development and is an adjunct professor at George Washington University.
Travis Mayo is an Evaluation Specialist with USAID’s Bureau for Policy, Planning and Learning (PPL). Within PPL Travis specializes in the use of monitoring and evaluation to support adaptive management and organizational learning. He’s the Activity Manager for PPL’s Global Learning for Adaptive Management (GLAM) contract. His past professional experiences include working for the World Bank’s Independent Evaluation Group, USAID Global Health Bureau, and serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in South Africa. He has an undergraduate degree from Penn State Univ. in Political Science and a graduate degree from George Washington Univ. Elliott School in International Development Studies.
PRESENTATION PANEL
Michelle Adams-Matson is a practice area lead for Strategy, Evaluation and Analysis (SEA). In this role, she provides leadership for 10 Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) projects located around the globe and serves as the technical director for USAID’s largest MEL platform in Pakistan. She is passionate about using strategic planning and M&E to improve organizational impact and has worked with numerous organizations to institute effective common sense, and results-oriented management systems. She is a highly experienced and recognized strategic planning expert who has worked with the U.S. government, host country institutions and small local organizations to help them plan and implement programs in a rapidly evolving environment. She has integrated approaches that are designed to foster and strengthen self-reliance and sustainability in local communities and institutions. As a former senior program analyst for USAID, Michelle was responsible for country strategic planning and M&E for two regional bureaus. During that time, she chaired an Agency team to improve strategic planning systems and authored the first Agency-wide policies on strategic planning. Since then, she has designed, taught and facilitated training courses and workshops on strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) and organizational development. She holds a master’s degree in international development and U.S. foreign policy from American University.
Johannes Hoogeveen is a lead economist in the poverty and equity practice of the World Bank. He prepared Systematic Country Diagnostic for Niger, Mali, Cameroon and the Central African republic and leads the Mali Development Policy Operations(DPO) series. His current research interest evolves around iterative (project) monitoring, particularly in fragile situations, and enhancing the ownership of productive assets by poor households.
Tim Shifflett leads MSI’s Client Solutions team focused on applying technology to tackle difficult problems for development projects in the areas of data collection, management and reporting. Tim specializes in mobile data collection, usually in conflict zones, and geospatial analysis. Prior to his work at MSI, Tim worked for a large non-profit international organization and in the geospatial imaging industry. He has a master’s degree in geographic and cartographic sciences and a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from George Mason University.
Josh Mandell is a business executive on IBM’s GBS Foreign Affairs team. He leads GBS’s effort to partner with development institutions and apply IBM’s vast resources to solve global development challenges. Prior to IBM, Josh led strategy and business development for DevResults, a small technology company focused on data management and M&E software. Before DevResults, Josh was on the delivery side, where he focused on global education and training. He has an undergraduate degree in Middle East and African Studies from Trinity College, as well as an MPA from NYU Wagner School of Public Service.
SPREAD THE WORD
#MonitoringFrontiers
Twitter Handles
MSI, A Tetra Tech Company | @MSIWorldwide
Integrity Global | @Tweet_Integrity
Mercy Corps | @mercycorps
USAID/PPL| @USAIDPolicy
World Bank | @WorldBank
Development Transformations | @_DTGlobal
IBM | @IBM
![](https://www.msiworldwide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Social-Media-NFIDM-1.png)
![](https://www.msiworldwide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/5.png)
![](https://www.msiworldwide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/All-Panelists.png)
![](https://www.msiworldwide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Discussion-Panelists.png)
![](https://www.msiworldwide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Presentation-Panelists.png)
![](https://www.msiworldwide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/MonitoringFrontiers.png)
Before
Use the information and graphics below and to the left to schedule content on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Use the hashtag #MonitoringFrontiers in posts and tag @MSIWorldwide and participating member organizations.
Retweet or share @MSIWorldwide posts about the event.
Live tweet comments and photos during the event tagging @MSIWorldwide and participating member organizations, along with #MonitoringFrontiers
General
#Monitoring and #evaluation go hand-in-hand, but the former has received much less attention. On May 23, join a diverse panel of monitoring experts in discussing how to elevate the discipline and improve methods at #MonitoringFrontiers: http://ow.ly/3EhM30oBxne
At #MonitoringFrontiers, we’re bringing together a slew of #globaldev experts from across the industry for a day of discussions on forward-thinking approaches and tools around monitoring. May 23. 1-6pm. Space is limited so register today! http://ow.ly/3EhM30oBxne
One week remaining until @MSIWorldwide’s New Frontiers In International Development Monitoring conference. Only a few spots remain so register today! May 23. 1-6: http://ow.ly/3EhM30oBxne #MonitoringFrontiers #globaldev
How can development practitioners bridge the gap to better #evaluation? At #MonitoringFrontiers, we’re joining experts from @Tweet_Integrity @mercycorps @USAIDPolicy @WorldBank @_DTGlobal & @IBM to discuss. Space is limited – register today: http://ow.ly/3EhM30oBxne
Facebook/LinkedIn: How can development practitioners bridge the gap to better #evaluation? At #MonitoringFrontiers, we’re joining experts from MSI, A Tetra Tech Company, Integrity Global, Mercy Corps, USAID Bureau for Policy, Planning & Learning, World Bank, and IBM for an innovative conference. Space is limited – register today for the May 23rd event: http://ow.ly/3EhM30oBxne
Panel #1: Frontiers in Data Collection & Management: Elevating the Discipline of Monitoring”
#Monitoring and #evaluation go hand-in-hand, but the former has received much less attention. On May 23, join a diverse panel of monitoring experts in discussing how to elevate the discipline and improve methods at #MonitoringFrontiers: http://ow.ly/3EhM30oBxne
Third party-monitoring in #globaldev promotes transparency and accountability across projects. How can the sector improve methods for engaging in #TPM and data? Join our panel of experts on May 23 at #MonitoringFrontiers: http://ow.ly/3EhM30oBxne
Don’t miss “Frontiers in Data Collection & Management: Elevating the Discipline of Monitoring” on May 23 at #MonitoringFrontiers. ft. experts Lala Kasimova @MSIWorldwide Kathryn Rzeszut @Tweet_Integrity Sonia Moldovan @mercycorps Travis Mayo @USAIDPolicy: http://ow.ly/3EhM30oBxne
Facebook/LinkedIn: Don’t miss “Frontiers in Data Collection & Management: Elevating the Discipline of Monitoring” on May 23 at #MonitoringFrontiers. Featuring experts Lala Kasimova (Management Systems International) Kathryn Rzeszut (Integrity Global), Sonia Moldovan (Mercy Corps), and Travis Mayo (USAID PPL): http://ow.ly/3EhM30oBxne
Panel #2: “Building a Common Monitoring Toolbox”
How can #globaldev evaluators bring monitoring into the 21st century? Join our panel of experts for more on the innovative tools and resources available for “Building a Common Monitoring Toolbox.” Register today for #MonitoringFrontiers on May 23: http://ow.ly/3EhM30oBxne
There’s much more to monitoring in #globaldev than meets the eye. Join @WorldBank @_DTGlobal @IBM and @MSIWorldwide for a valuable discussion on the tools and skills needed to elevate the discipline. May 23 at #MonitoringFrontiers: http://ow.ly/3EhM30oBxne
Looking forward to hearing #monitoring pros Johannes Hoogeveen @WorldBank Sloan Mann @_DTGlobal Tim Shifflett @MSIWorldwide & Josh Mandell @IBM discuss “Building a Common Monitoring Toolbox” at #MonitoringFrontiers. Space is limited – register now: http://ow.ly/3EhM30oBxne
What are some innovations in the field of #monitoring? Looking forward to insights from Johannes Hoogeveen @WorldBank Sloan Mann @_DTGlobal Tim Shifflett Michelle Adams-Matson @MSIWorldwide & Josh Mandell @IBM, at #MonitoringFrontiers! http://ow.ly/3EhM30oBxne
Facebook/LinkedIn: What are some innovations in the field of #monitoring? Looking forward to insights from Johannes Hoogeveen (WorldBank), Sloan Mann (Development Transformations), Tim Shifflett & Michelle Adams-Matson (Management Systems International) & Josh Mandell (IBM), at #MonitoringFrontiers! http://ow.ly/3EhM30oBxne