Exploding the myth of incompatibility between accountability and learning

This chapter from Capacity Development in Practice examines the conflict in the field of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) between the need for ‘accountability’ and the desire to ensure ‘learning’.

"The tug-of-war between learning and accountability is nonsensical. They need each other. Understanding effectiveness requires both." (Guijt 2010)

Contents

• Exploding the Myth of Incompatibility between Accountability and Learning
• Understanding the tug-of-war
• Practical limitations
• Capacity constraints
• Economic and political trends
• Context constraints (and incentives)
• Organizational culture
• Philosophical simplicity
• Ideas that trap and ideas that liberate
• Trap 1: Defining learning and accountability to see convergence
• Idea 1: Clarifying learning purposes – including accountability
• Trap 2: Predicting and controlling an idealized world
• Idea 2: Adapting expectations of accountability and learning to contextual characteristics
• Converging capacities
• Arm-in-arm: Principles, practices and basic good ideas to resolve the tension