Integrated MEL Modules – Theoretical Framework for Monitoring and Evaluation of Public Policies with a Focus on Rule of Law Reforms, 19 November 2024

On November 19, 2024, in Tirana, the next module of the Integrated Program for Monitoring and Evaluating Rule of Law Policies took place. This module brought together participants from civil society, academia, and the business sector.

The module’s lecturers included Gledis Gjipali, Executive Director of EMA, and Mimoza Agolli, MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning) expert.

In his opening remarks, Gledis Gjipali provided an overview of the reforms and policies undertaken in the field of rule of law, with a particular focus on initiatives within the European integration process. He discussed EU-established mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating candidate countries, such as the New Enlargement Methodology, which prioritizes rule of law issues through the Fundamentals cluster of negotiation chapters. He also highlighted tools like the Rule of Law Report, which now includes Western Balkan countries such as Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Montenegro, and the new EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. Gjipali emphasized the importance of national reforms, such as Albania’s Rule of Law Roadmap, Public Administration Roadmap, and Democratic Institutions Roadmap, as well as the National Plan for European Integration and the National Reform Agenda under the Growth Plan. He stressed that monitoring the implementation of these policies is essential, and civil society plays a crucial role in evaluating their impact on strengthening institutions and democratic culture.

Mimoza Agolli structured her presentation around key topics, including the theoretical framework of MEL, designing a MEL model focused on rule of law policies, and practical examples from Albania. She introduced various MEL types, comparing their strengths and weaknesses—internal vs. external monitoring, participatory vs. non-participatory monitoring, and progress vs. process monitoring. Agolli used examples, such as the internal monitoring of Albania’s Anti-Corruption Strategy, which quantitatively assesses the implementation of measures but lacks qualitative analysis of unimplemented measures.

In her discussion on evaluation, Agolli highlighted its close connection to monitoring. Evaluation answers questions like, “What impact has been achieved?” and “Can the change be attributed to the policy being monitored?” She differentiated between monitoring, a continuous process integrated into policy design, and evaluation, an episodic process focused on specific policy issues with targeted resources.

Agolli also outlined the elements of a MEL system, including monitoring methods, evaluation frameworks, logical frameworks (logframes), objectives, impact indicators, data collection and processing, monitoring periods, and reporting. She emphasized that developing a MEL model for rule of law policies is challenging due to the need for clearly defined and standardized terms, which are often absent in this field. Experts must adapt to specific national contexts and policy dynamics.

During the practical session, participants explored examples of monitoring and evaluation methods applied to specific policies, such as the Anti-Corruption Strategy, Integrity Policies for Public Institutions, and Albania’s Employment Strategy.