Prosper Global’s 4-Step Framework for Choosing Digital M&E Tools at Scale

When Prosper Global’s monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) team discovered that some of its programs were juggling 7 to 8 different data tools each, Senior Director Meri Ghorkhmazyan led a global effort to fix it — a 12-country research process, a formal tender, and ultimately one enterprise standard built around CommCare. She wrote up the full methodology as a guide for fellow MEL leaders, published by NetHope. Here’s the throughline, and how CommCare fit into it.

The problem: tool sprawl, one country at a time

Country teams were choosing tools ad hoc — in some cases, up to seven different platforms for data collection alone, within a single country. That meant duplicated procurement costs, an MEL team stretched thin supporting a moving target of tools, and data too fragmented to trust.

A 4-step framework for choosing digital M&E tools

A task force spanning MEL, IT, and Technology-for-Development, backed by senior leadership from day one — not a tools decision made in a silo.

In-depth interviews and case studies across 12 countries quantified exactly where tool sprawl was costing time and money, before anyone picked a solution.

A formal RFP led to CommCare as the enterprise standard for data collection and case management.

A defined seven-tool MEL Tech Suite — CommCare, Ona, Stata/R, MAXQDA, QGIS, Microsoft Azure, and PowerBI, each assigned a specific job — paired with a structured training program, not just a mandate to switch.

For the complete step-by-step process — including the RFP approach and training curriculum — read Meri Ghorkhmazyan’s full guide on NetHope.org. And to see how CommCare fits into Prosper Global’s broader digital ecosystem, visit our Prosper Global partner spotlight.