BDA and PNOC Strengthen MEL Capabilities Through Pacific Women Lead Support
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Koror, Palau – “Building on the momentum of last week, this workshop has brought together a range of discussions to strengthen our work,” highlighted Ms. Eunice Akiwo, Director of the Bureau of Domestic Affairs (BDA), Ministry of State. “As a result, not only do we have a clear way forward for not just how we will be coordinating the gender mainstreaming across the whole-of- government, but how we will be ensuring that we stay on track together.”
Following a three-day workshop held from 19-21 May 2025, staff of Palau’s Bureau of Domestic Affairs (BDA), Ministry of State as well as the Palau National Olympic Committee (PNOC) have a deeper understanding of how to apply monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) tools and approaches to their work.
Both BDA and PNOC receive technical and funding support from the Pacific Women Lead at SPC (PWL at SPC) for locally-led programmes of work to advance gender equality in Palau. The 3- day MEL workshop is part of a broad suite of technically assistance identified by partners to strengthen project delivery.
Sessions focused on both MEL theory as well as the supporting the development of MEL plans, led by BDA and PNOC, for their PWL at SPC grants.
“With the Pacific Mini Games just a month away, this workshop has helped me ensure the project delivery makes the most of that upcoming opportunity,” reflected Ms. Summer Saunders, “This was a crucial opportunity. I have clarity on how it fits into PNOC’s overall strategic plan, how to have my team included and how to monitor the project effectively”.
In addition to building technical capabilities in MEL, the discussion of theories of change, data collection methods and analysis, and reporting mechanisms prompted dialogue on alignment and collaboration. These initial conversations will continue later this week during partner roundtable dialogues with other local actors implementing gender-related projects supported by the Pacific Women Lead portfolio regionally and bilaterally.
“I am keen to collaborate,” reflected Ms. Jelga Emiwo, Family Protection Act Adviser, amidst preparations for the roundtable dialogues. “I am looking forward to gain knowledge and understanding of other programmes on the ground. Where are the overlaps, what are the synergies, and how can support each other.”
The MEL workshop is the third of three technical assistance programmes being delivered with SPC over the past two weeks in Palau. Last week, SPC delivered a 2-day workshop on communications and a 3-day workshop on applying a people-centred approach (PCA) to gender mainstreaming. In the week to come, a Monitoring,
Evaluation and Learning (MEL) workshop will be held in collaboration with the Palau National Olympic Committee as part of broader support provided to national organisations by the Australian Government under the Pacific Women Lead portfolio.