The Undervalued Strength of Field Experience in M&E Recruitment

In the field of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), particularly in development and humanitarian contexts, one ongoing concern is the tendency to prioritize candidates with international academic degrees over those with extensive field experience. This trend, while often unintentional, can undermine the effectiveness of M&E systems and the impact of the projects they support.
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫?
Professionals with significant field experience bring deep contextual understanding, practical insights, and the ability to navigate real-world challenges. They know what works on the ground—how communities respond to interventions, how to manage data collection in remote areas, and how to ensure that M&E systems are culturally and logistically appropriate.
On the other hand, candidates with strong academic backgrounds but limited field exposure may lack the practical skills necessary to design and implement effective M&E frameworks. While their theoretical knowledge is valuable, it can fall short without the grounding of field-based learning.
𝐌&𝐄 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬—𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠. Valuing one form of experience over the other risks weakening the very systems we rely on for accountability, learning, and impact.
Moving forward, recruitment for M&E roles must balance academic qualifications with demonstrated field competence. Doing so will strengthen data quality, increase local ownership, and ultimately lead to more effective and responsive programs.
Let’s start recognizing and valuing those who have built their expertise through years of hands-on work, often in challenging and underserved environments.