After two full years in the land of a thousand hills, sadly it is time for me to say goodbye. Although the experience will probably only fully unfold once I’m back home, this is what I take back professionally:
Cultural understanding: Although I have always worked in international teams, I have never had to adapt to another culture. Overcoming the frustration of not really understanding how the system works and eventually mastering it, is a great achievement and… Patience: … in the process you have no choice but to learn to be patient! More respect for entrepreneurs:...Blog
ICT4D is Here to Stay
Melanie Uhlen - 29.5.2019
Chief Technology Strategist, Advisor Digital Societies, ICT4D Advisor, Innovation Manager – these are just some of the job descriptions on the business cards I collected during the ICT4D conference. The conference that my colleague Sandrine and I attended in Kampala from 30 April to 2 May 2019 had a clear message: Technology will play an increasingly important role in humanitarian interventions and development cooperation. Technology will change both the way aid is delivered and how development organizations organize themselves. It already does, looking at the tools presented at the...
One Year energypedia consult Rwanda
Melanie Uhlen - 20.3.2019
One year ago, I officially registered energypedia consult Rwanda with the Rwandan Development Board. Time has been flying since then. Let’s look at the highlights in past and future of this young company (which of course remains connected to its mother company energypedia consult in Germany!). energypedia consult team Rwanda
My colleague Sandrine and I can proudly look back at a number of achievements that built the foundation of our...
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Rwanda Results-based Monitoring without Indicators: The Soft Monitoring Approach
Melanie Uhlen - 23.11.2018
Results-based monitoring without indicators? Really? You are probably thinking now: “No way! As M&E consultants we spend so much time and capacity-building efforts to teach people about the importance of well-defined indicators and now you're telling us that indicators are not at all important?” Don’t worry, I don't. Indicators are great. Here is what I mean:
In results-based monitoring we ideally use indicators to measure progress. Provided that they meet the SMART criteria, indicators help us to make the intangible measurable and to systematically and objectively track...
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M&E MERL Tech Jozi Takeaways: Matching Needs and Tools
Melanie Uhlen - 16.8.2018
In the first week of August, I attended the MERL Tech in Johannesburg, where the tech community in the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning space met for an intense two-day conference. I was given the opportunity to present our software WebMo for Monitoring and Collaboration as well as host a session of our unique “The Wikipedia Approach to Monitoring”. However, it turned out that my role at that conference had more faces: As much as I’m a developer of WebMo – I’m also a consultant. In my work I want to make sure that anyone approaching me on the subject “IT for M&E” gets...
Certified Monitoring and Excel Trainings in Kigali
Melanie Uhlen - 8.8.2018
Our Rwanda office is giving certified one-day trainings on "Results-Based Monitoring" and "Excel Tools for Results Monitoring" in Kigali! Ideal for people who work (or want to work) in the non-profit sector and want to upgrade their skills regarding Monitoring and Evaluation. Book the sessions separately or as a discounted package. You will find all the details here. If you have questions, call us at (+250) 0782491154 for more information.
Results-based Monitoring, Tuesday, 28th August, 8:00pm – 17:00 pm Excel Tools for Results Monitoring, Wednesday, 29th August, 8:00am - 17:... Free M&E Trainings in Kigali for NGOs and Students
Melanie Uhlen - 17.7.2018
Our Rwanda branch is offering free trainings on results-based monitoring and Excel tools for monitoring in Kigali! Ideal for people who work (or want to work) in the non-profit sector and want to upgrade their skills regarding Monitoring and Evaluation. In collaboration with kLab, on 23 and 26 July. Call us at (+250) 0782491154 for more information.
Intro to Results-based Monitoring, 23rd July, 5:30pm – 7:30 pm (walk-in). Building Excel Tools for Monitoring, 26th July, 8:30am - 4:30 pm (registration required). Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/...Tags:
Rwanda The Wikipedia Approach to Monitoring
Melanie Uhlen - 2.7.2018
Monitoring is more about people than about data, and processes matter more than technology.
Just like Wikipedia is not primarily about articles, monitoring is not just about data: It is the engagement of people that lies at the heart of both. The technology itself is not decisive, as engagement is stimulated by the right processes as much as by the technology: the barriers to participation must be low – both in terms of user-friendly software and organizational structures.
Our experiences from ten years of working for various projects show that a transparent and...
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monitoring MoU between energypedia consult Rwanda and Management Development Foundation
Melanie Uhlen - 16.5.2018
Energypedia consult Rwanda and MDF AC (Management Development Foundation, Afrique Centrale, mdf.nl), were happy to sign a Memorandum of Understanding in Kigali on 23rd April 2018. The purpose of the MoU is to cooperate in the area of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) trainings and other possible assignments when both parties could benefit. Together, energypedia consult Rwanda and MDF AC will for example look at the possibilities to jointly carry out trainings focusing on Rwanda. Energypedia consult Rwanda contributes with its expertise regarding “IT for M&E”, while MDF AC...
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Company newsM&E Riding the wave of business: My first month as Country Director of energypedia consult Rwanda
Melanie Uhlen - 23.4.2018
As of this month, I’m always on vacation – or never, depending how you look at it. I’ve left employment to start a branch of energypedia consult in Rwanda. In principle, I continue my job of the past years as M&E consultant specialized in IT solutions, just in a different country, context and position. In Kigali, I’ve created a group for entrepreneurs to help each other out including by monthly lunch meetings. At the beginning I was the one listening and scribbling notes during the entire meeting. But before I knew it, others, who are completely new to Rwanda, began to ask me...
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Company newsRwanda