Advancing MEL and Policy Research Capacity at SEAMEO Workshops

The SEAMEO RETRAC participated in the 5th Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Strategic Workshop and the 3rd SEAMEO Policy Research Capacity Building Workshop, held on 9–10 February 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand. The events were organised by the SEAMEO Secretariat with support from the ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme.

At the Strategic Workshop, participants reviewed and assessed MEL data collected from SEAMEO Centres during the 2024/2025 period, examining progress against the SEAMEO Results Framework, addressing challenges in data collection and consolidation, and agreeing on improved methodologies for qualitative data gathering. The workshop also emphasised gender mainstreaming in MEL processes, including requirements for sex-disaggregated data and minimum standards for system-wide gender reporting. In addition, participants reviewed existing MEL processes, and proposed key directions and priority actions for the FY 2025/2026 cycle were also identified.

The 3rd SEAMEO Policy Research Capacity Building Workshop continued a series of initiatives launched since 2024 to enhance policy research and publication capacity across SEAMEO Centres. Building on previous workshops, this session focused on strengthening participants’ ability to translate research findings, data, and MEL evidence into concise, policy-oriented documents such as policy briefs, notes, and discussion papers. Through practical exercises and guided discussions, participants developed skills in analysing evidence, structuring policy documents, and applying quality criteria to ensure relevance and usability for policymakers. The workshop contributes to improving the visibility and policy impact of research outputs across the SEAMEO network, supporting more informed policy dialogue at both national and regional levels.