The Ebbs and Flows of M&E in the Bahamas

The Ebbs and Flows of M&E in the Bahamas

by Lisa Bochey

            Anyone who has spent time overseas, either solo traveling or studying abroad, is familiar with the inevitable highs and lows that come with navigating a new cultural setting. The summer practicum in the Bahamas was no exception. We were tasked with monitoring and evaluating educational programs run by a local philanthropic organization. Our teams had to familiarize ourselves with the Bahamian context while simultaneously learning about and conducting qualitative research. In one week, my classmates and I had to constantly remember to stay flexible, open-minded, and take any opportunity that came our way. Situated in paradise, the highs and lows of our experience mirrored the constant rising and falling of the tide. 

            The week began on Sunday, as, one by one, we made our way to Nassau. We had originally scheduled dinner with our clients that night, but our plans changed as quickly as Bahamian weather. Like seasoned travelers, we adapted. Despite any travel weariness, we soon found ourselves indulging in local Bahamian cuisine at the Fish Fry. We rode that wave of high energy right into Monday morning, where we managed to squeeze in a little bit of sacred relaxation before reconvening and making our first site visit. 

My classmates and I with some colleagues at the University of the Bahamas

In the unpredictable spirit of qualitative research, my team and I boarded a bus to visit a school where we were not really sure who we would meet. When we arrived, we were greeted by a staff member of the Lyford Cay Foundation. She agreed to let us ask her a few questions. With true Bahamian hospitality, she introduced us to one of her colleagues as well, who also agreed to an interview. We listened carefully as they painted the picture of their impact on Bahamian youth. We learned about Lyford Cay’s summer enrichment program and the scholarship opportunities they offer students to attend local tertiary schools. That evening, we had our client dinner, where we learned more about our Bahamian colleagues. 

            The rest of the week washed over us quickly. As we dipped our toes into the waters of qualitative research, Professor Taylor guided us through the best practices of interviews, focus groups, and data coding. My team’s goal was to determine the impact of the Lyford Cay Foundations’ domestic scholarship program and provide recommendations about how to move the program forward. We conducted many qualitative interviews, but they were not without their complications. From navigating unknown parts of Nassau in search of student interviewees to afternoon thunderstorms interrupting our Wi-Fi connection, my teammates and I learned how to go with the flow. 

My teammate and I conducting a focus group with Scholarship recipients

            Every morning at 8am, we reconvened as a class to check in and debrief the previous day. We shared our highs and lows, which ranged from feeling overwhelmed with too much data and too little time, to enjoying the experience of learning about our fellow team members. At some point, every group seemed to feel as though they were swimming in an endless pool of qualitative data. But successful qualitative interviews and a few late nights of data coding were enough to calm the waters. 

            Our deep dive into the world of Monitoring and Evaluation was an invaluable experience. During our whirlwind week in Nassau, we were all given opportunities to hone our interview skills, practice working under pressure, and engage in deep self-reflection. Our projects slowly came to life throughout the week, and we were able to return to D.C. feeling confident about our work. We wrapped up our practicum with preliminary presentations to SIS faculty before sharing our final deliverables with our Bahamian clients at the Lyford Cay Foundation. Overall, we learned to manage client relationships, team dynamics, and ourselves! By relaxing into the unpredictability of real world monitoring and evaluation, we learned valuable lessons in patience, professionalism, and producing under pressure.