Education is a fundamental pillar for the growth and development of any society. Recognizing its significance, MRL is dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for marginalized communities and the children of migrants. However, the success of these initiatives relies not only on the program implementation but also on community engagement and continuous monitoring.

At Migration and Rights Lab, we deploy a community-based monitoring system (CBMS). that involves the active participation of community members in monitoring and evaluating local development initiatives. It aims to empower communities by giving them a voice in decision-making processes and enabling them to hold accountable the various stakeholders involved in development projects.

Our dynamic program intern has been busy over the past week monitoring our program beneficiaries in the educational sponsorship program. This is done in conjunction with the parents of the children.

The benefits of a community-based monitoring system (CBMS) include:

• Community ownership of the program fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility for local development initiatives
• Participatory approaches recognises community knowledge and empower them to actively contribute to the development agenda
• Improves Transparency and accountability by making information on development projects accessible to the community.
• Advocacy and mobilization of resources for community action plans