Author name: Ajmal Elahi

Ajmal Elahi is a development professional with over 18 years of experience in monitoring, evaluation, learning, research, governance and evidence systems. He is the Founder and Director of AAYAN Management Solutions and has worked with major international development partners including FCDO, USAID, the World Bank, UN agencies and international NGOs.

Learning and Adaptive Management: Turning Evidence into Better Decisions

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning / /

Development programmes generate increasing amounts of monitoring, evaluation and feedback evidence, but evidence does not automatically lead to learning or better decisions. This article examines the Learning Gap and presents the AAYAN Adaptive Learning Cycle as a practical approach to connecting evidence, reflection, decision-making, adaptation and institutional learning.

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Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and development financing in Pakistan connecting businesses, sustainable investment, and community impact.

Beyond Philanthropy: Unlocking CSR as a Development Financing Opportunity in Pakistan

Uncategorized / /

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is already contributing to Pakistan’s social and development landscape. However, its potential as a strategic development financing mechanism remains relatively underexplored. This article examines how stronger partnerships between businesses, civil society organisations, and development actors could help move CSR beyond philanthropy towards sustainable social impact.

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MEL: High Expectations, Limited Investment – A Gap That Continues to Be Overlooked

MEL & Evaluation, Systems & Intelligence / /

As development programmes increasingly emphasise accountability, evidence, adaptive management, and measurable results, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) systems are expected to play a central role in programme success. Yet despite these growing expectations, MEL often remains one of the least resourced functions within programme design and implementation. This article reflects on a recurring challenge observed

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AI Is Learning from Humans: Are We Losing the Habit of Critical Thinking?

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning / /

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing professional and organisational workflows. While AI can improve efficiency and access to knowledge, growing dependence on AI-generated outputs raises important questions about critical thinking, human judgement, and the future of learning.

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Understanding MEAL: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning in Development Contexts

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning / /

Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) is the backbone of any development intervention. It ensures high-quality implementation, provides timely information for informed management decisions, and measures contributions to outcomes and impacts. M&E and MEAL are often used interchangeably depending on contexts and programme needs. Over time, the M&E moniker has been augmented to include accountability and learning.

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