Partners implementing the EU-funded Liberia Spotlight Initiative 2.0 have taken a significant step toward strengthening accountability, learning, and evidence-based decision-making with the establishment of a multi-stakeholder Participatory Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (PMER) Working Group. The new working group was formally launched during a three-day meeting convened by the Programme Management and Coordination Unit (PMCU) from September 29 to October 1 at One UN House in Monrovia.
The gathering brought together representatives from government institutions, UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women, civil society organizations, the Civil Society National Reference Group (CS-NRG), the European Union Delegation to Liberia, and other key stakeholders. The initiative marks an important milestone in efforts to ensure that programme results are not only tracked but also validated, understood, and used to improve the lives of women and girls across Liberia.
The programme aims to advance gender equality and eliminate violence against women and girls and other harmful practices. Jointly implemented by UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator and funded by the European Union through the Spotlight Initiative 2.0 Fund, the programme has set out to make a tangible difference in the lives of women and girls, particularly those in rural, marginalized, and underserved communities.
To support this goal, the PMER Working Group will serve as the programme’s technical platform for strengthening coordination, accountability, learning, and results measurement. Through harmonized indicators, common methodologies, shared data sources, and standardized reporting practices, partners will be better positioned to measure progress and assess impact consistently across the programme.
Central to this effort is the Programme Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Knowledge Management (PMEL-KM) Plan, a comprehensive framework that integrates monitoring, evaluation, research, learning, reporting, accountability, and knowledge management. The framework operationalizes 45 programme indicators and provides a common system for tracking progress, assessing outcomes, and informing programme decisions.
A defining feature of the PMER framework is its commitment to participation and inclusion. Rather than viewing women and girls solely as beneficiaries, the framework recognizes them as rights holders, leaders, and agents of change whose experiences are critical to understanding programme effectiveness. Civil society organizations, community groups, and the Civil Society National Reference Group will play a key role in generating, interpreting, and validating evidence throughout implementation.
The PMER Working Group will help improve the quality, consistency, and credibility of programme data, with a focus on maintaining high standards for accuracy, completeness, timeliness, reliability, validity, and traceability. The programme will track progress across four key areas: strengthening laws, policies, and institutions; promoting positive social norms and behaviors; expanding access to quality services and justice for survivors; and strengthening the capacity and influence of women’s rights organizations and civil society groups.
Key points
- The PMER Working Group will serve as the programme’s technical platform for strengthening coordination, accountability, learning, and results measurement.
- The programme aims to advance gender equality and eliminate violence against women and girls and other harmful practices.
- The PMER framework recognizes women and girls as rights holders, leaders, and agents of change whose experiences are critical to understanding programme effectiveness.
