Tracing the Roots of the Modern Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Profession: From Early Practices to Modern Professionalism

DE Uwizeyimana.  2024

Abstract

The literature shows that while forms of monitoring and evaluation date back thousands of years to ancient civilizations in Africa and Asia, the origins of M&E as a modern profession remain contested. Using a systematic desktop review, the study finds that professional status requires advanced theoretical and practical training, which M&E practitioners must likewise attain. Because formal M&E qualifications, theoretical foundations, and most early academic literature originated in Western universities, the paper concludes that M&E first emerged as a profession in Western countries before being adopted elsewhere, despite the much older historical practices found in non-Western societies.

Relevance to Scouting

Understanding how monitoring and evaluation evolved into a formal profession underscores the importance of combining practical experience with solid theoretical foundations, a balance that strengthens planning and assessment in any structured movement. As Scouting develops strategies, programs, and training curricula across global, national, and local levels, the professional principles of M&E—clear frameworks, credible evidence, and informed decision-making—support consistent quality and improvement. The recognition that rigorous skills and established methodologies are essential to effective evaluation helps ensure that initiatives are not only carried out, but also meaningfully assessed, allowing ambitions set at broader levels to translate into better-designed activities and measurable growth throughout the movement.