Grassroots Voices: Unseen Realities and Practical Insights on Monitoring and Evaluation in India

India’s 3.4 million nonprofits work tirelessly to drive change in education, health, and livelihoods across diverse geographies. Yet, when it comes to Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), grassroots organizations face enormous challenges. Over 70% of small and mid-sized NGOs struggle to build evidence of their impact due to limited funds, lack of technical expertise, and minimal access to mentorship.

This session brings grassroots leaders from across India to share their unfiltered experiences with M&E. These voices will spotlight:
Survival with Scarce Resources: How M&E happens when budgets are tight, and teams juggle multiple responsibilities.

Disconnected Data and Impact: Why data collected often feels irrelevant or disconnected from community impact.

Limited Access to Expertise: The absence of affordable M&E support and technical guidance to strengthen internal systems.

Navigating Donor Expectations: The challenge of aligning local realities with donor-driven reporting frameworks.

This isn’t about abstract frameworks or global best practices. It’s about real stories from the ground — voices that rarely get heard but hold the power to reshape M&E for grassroots impact.

What Will Participants Learn or Do?
Understand Ground-Level Realities: Gain insights into the challenges, successes, and adaptive strategies of grassroots organizations across India.

Identify Systemic Barriers: Recognize the structural gaps that prevent grassroots organizations from building strong evidence.

Explore Practical, Scalable Solutions: Discover community-driven approaches that can strengthen M&E at the grassroots level.