Measuring a program’s progress and impact is essential, yet it can be challenging for many organizations. Duke's online Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) program is designed to equip professionals – whether in public agencies, NGOs or the private sector – with the frameworks, strategies and evaluative methods and tools needed to effectively create, implement, monitor and evaluate programs.
By the end of the course, participants should be able to:
- Understand and build Theories of Change for the design, monitoring and evaluation of projects and programs
- Implement monitoring strategies, with an emphasis on result-based programs, for effective project and program execution and learning.
- Design and implement a range of evaluative methods commonly used by multilateral and bilateral agencies
The program is divided into twelve class sessions with live meetings, readings and opportunities for additional office hours. Each class session is composed of a conceptual and an applied component. The conceptual components are designed to introduce participants to the theoretical underpinnings, frequently used concepts, and logical structure and sequencing of project and program design, monitoring, implementation and learning. The applied portion aims to use specific case studies and exercises to deepen the understanding of conceptual elements and their application.
About the Program
M&E Planning and Management
- Integrating planning, monitoring, and evaluation for results
- Identifying indicators and collecting data and resources
- Choosing and developing a framework
- Identifying and involving stakeholders in joint processes
- Identifying and planning for M&E institutional architecture
- Human resources and capacity building for M&E
M&E Techniques and Processes
- Decentralized evaluations
- Employing cost benefit and cost effectiveness analysis
- Developing socio-economic performance indicators
- Innovative techniques for valuing public program outputs and outcomes
- Sector-specific analytical frameworks (e.g., health, education, agriculture, sanitation, rural and urban development, transportation, and municipal services)
- Using Excel to conduct and estimate the impact of real life programs
- Statistical theory and tools, sampling, distributions, randomized trials
Tuition for the MEL program is $2,500. Applicants who are accepted by August 5 will receive a 25% priority registration pricing. Special alumni and partner pricing is available upon request. For more information, please email us.
Tuition and fees cover:
- Faculty instruction from Duke faculty and expert guest speakers from the World Bank, IMF, etc.
- All course materials and resources
- Access to Duke's Learning Management system
- Staff support regarding course participation
- Public sector managers, planners, program analysts and accountants
- Project managers and professionals involved in the planning, implementation and assessment of programs across sectors, including but not limited to development banks, donor agencies, public service, education, health, and nonprofit work
Program Information
Program Dates:
October 5–30, 2026 (M, W, F from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. US ET)
Priority Registration Deadline:
August 5, 2026 (for priority pricing)
Registration Deadline:
September 28, 2026
Location:
Online via Zoom
Questions?
Email the Executive Education Team at sanfordexeced@duke.edu.
More Courses:
Interested in hearing more about similar courses? Check out Duke's course on Behavioral Economics & Behavioral Science.
Program Director
Hans-Martin Boehmer is an accomplished professional in the field of international finance and development with over 30 years of experience spanning the private sector, government, and international organizations. Currently, he is a Visiting Professor of the Practice at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy and contributes to multilateral financial institutions including the Global Environment Facility, the World Bank Group, the Inter-American Development Bank, the International Investment Bank, and the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development as a consultant.
He is a faculty member at the International Law Institute, Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. Since 2015, he has been teaching development-related courses on topics such as project management, monitoring and evaluation, and policy analysis, sharing his expertise with a wide range of countries from Barbados to Sri Lanka. He previously held the position of Senior Manager at the World Bank Group’s Independent Evaluation Group, where he spearheaded institutional reforms to boost data accountability and transparency. He held the Chair for the global initiative to solidify monitoring and evaluation systems in low and middle-income countries (theclearinitiative.org).
Hans-Martin Boehmer holds a Ph.D. with distinction in Economics from Georgetown University, an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Bonn, as well as an Executive Management Certificate in Business Administration from Harvard University.
This course was excellent and well-balanced in learning theoretical content and examples of practical applications. I enjoyed Prof. Boehmer's teaching style, real-life and work experiences, expertise, humor, grace, and humility. And the guest speakers were all insightful and excellent! I wish I had had more time to read the materials provided during the course, and I'm grateful we'll have access to them post-course ;). I look forward to exploring other executive education courses with Duke in the future! Thank you!
2024 Participant