CLEAR-LAC Wraps Up M&E Training in Ecuador, Strengthening Public Sector Capacity

In January 2025, in Quito, Ecuador, the Center for Learning on Evaluation and Results for Latin America and the Caribbean (CLEAR-LAC) held the closing session of its “Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation of Public Policies” course, developed in partnership with the National Planning Secretariat and supported by the UC Center for Public Policy.

The course, attended by nearly 30 civil servants, aimed to strengthen monitoring and evaluation (M&E) capacities within public entities by providing theoretical and practical tools applicable to their work.

The final session, led by CLEAR-LAC Development Director Martha Kluttig and CLEAR-LAC Communications Coordinator Paula Mansilla, was inaugurated by the National Planning Secretary, Sariha Moya, who underscored the program’s value: "This training is a future investment that not only strengthens our technical capacities but also promotes people's well-being and reinforces accountability as the foundation of efficient public management."

Throughout the course, participants deepened their understanding of diagnostics, theories of change, evaluation types, and indicators, while also exploring gender perspectives and strengthening M&E systems. During the closing session, students presented their final projects—evaluation proposals for 15 Ecuadorian public programs—and received feedback from peers and experts. These proposals will be compiled into a reference document for the National Planning Secretariat to inform future evaluations.

During the final in-person session, students presented their projects, carried out during the training program, and received feedback from their peers and the instructor, creating a valuable space for exchanging ideas on M&E. In line with this effort, the session welcomed civil servants from the “Ecuador without Child Malnutrition” National Strategy, who provided feedback on related student projects.

Participants praised the comprehensive course. “We saw the entire process, from design to evaluation, covering the full planning cycle, and even monitoring, capturing the integrality of these processes,” said Julio Olivo, a specialist from the Directorate of Evaluation for Planning and Public Policy.

The training also fostered inter-agency collaboration, strengthening communication between M&E specialists and program implementers. Jessica Ochoa, a planning analyst at the Ministry of Women and Human Rights, highlighted the course’s interactive format. "It was a very enriching process because it allowed us to have interactive classes. In addition, to bring local cases from our context as examples and adopt our colleagues’ learnings, which I find very valuable," she said.

Sebastián Ortiz, an analyst from the Directorate of Investment Evaluation at the National Planning Secretariat, said the course helped him better assess projects, "in order to make a proper reading of his assigned projects and with that to define more accurately the evaluations that end up feeding back into the interventions here in Ecuador."

With this training, CLEAR-LAC reaffirms its commitment to supporting M&E systems development in Ecuador and across the region. The organization thanks the students and authorities for their engagement in making the course a successful, enriching experience.