During the period from February to July 2023, SEO provided advisory services to enhance the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) system of the PUM Netherlands Senior Experts (PUM). PUM, established in 1978, is a volunteer organisation that provides advice and training to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and business support organisations in 45 sectors and 35  countries through Dutch experts with business experience.

In the context of this project, SEO, in collaboration with PUM, developed its new Theory of Change (ToC). The research team conducted interviews with multiple stakeholders, reviewed all available documentation, and held three workshops to create a new ToC based on PUM’s new mission, goals, and methods.

Similarly, SEO, in partnership with PUM, developed its MEL framework. The research team initially analysed PUM’s existing MEL framework through desk research and interviews. Subsequently, the team enhanced PUM’s indicator framework, emphasizing a strong alignment between indicators and the revised ToC. In addition to the comprehensive list of proposed indicators, the MEL framework includes baseline values, suggestions for target values, and methods for data collection for each indicator.