In this heartfelt and honest episode, I take you into a topic many M&E professionals experience but rarely talk about - boredom. Whether you're a data enthusiast, evaluation strategist, or new to the field, chances are you've felt stuck, disengaged, or wondered if your work still sparks joy.

I unpack the 4 B’s of Boredom in M&E—Burnout, Boxed-In, Blind Spots, and Bureaucracy—and dive into real causes of disengagement, from rigid structures to lost purpose. You’ll also hear inspiring reflections from colleagues across the globe, including Baraka Mfilinge in East Africa, and Edgardo Castañeda from Honduras.

This episode isn't just about naming the problem - it's about rediscovering your spark. I share 10 practical, story-rich strategies to reignite your motivation and reconnect with why you got into this field in the first place.

🎧 Tune in if you’ve ever felt like your M&E work was more mechanical than meaningful—and leave with tools to shift that narrative.

Connect with Godfrey Senkaba:

Website: https://www.mandeboost.com

Email: info@mandeboost.com

Twitter: https://x.com/senkaba_g

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/godfrey-senkaba-32452428/

Godfrey Senkaba, M&E Boost Podcast.

In this episode of the Monitoring and Evaluation Boost Podcast, host Godfrey Senkaba dives deep into the big ideas and latest updates shaping the world of evaluation.

This week’s focus? Artificial Intelligence. Specifically, how Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Claude can support - not replace - evaluators in doing faster, more efficient, and still rigorous work.

He unpacks the World Bank and IFAD’s guidance note on integrating AI thoughtfully in evaluations, spotlighting practical use cases from text summarization to data extraction. He also discusses potential risks- like bias and hallucinated insights - and how to mitigate them with smart workflows and strong human judgment.

But that’s not all — Godfrey rounds up what’s happening across the M&E world:

• AfrEA launches the National Evaluation Capacities Index (INCE) - a bold move to measure and grow national readiness.
• UNDP’s Evaluation Excellence Awards 2025 - with lessons from award-winning evaluations across Morocco, Costa Rica, Indonesia, and more.
• gLOCAL Evaluation Week 2025 - coming this June with 300+ free events worldwide.
• Claremont Graduate University’s info session - explore doctoral programs that can elevate your evaluator journey.

🎓 Whether you’re early in your M&E career or a seasoned professional, this episode will leave you energized and equipped for what’s next.

🔗 Links mentioned:

• World Bank/IFAD AI Guidance Note: https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099136005132515321
• AfrEA INCE Announcement: https://afrea.org/actualites/the-ince-is-introduced-in-africa-launched-at-the-afrea-head-office/
• gLOCAL Evaluation Week: https://www.globalevaluationinitiative.org/glocal-home
• UNDP Evaluation Awards: https://www.undp.org/evaluation/news/evaluation-excellence-awards-2025
• Claremont Graduate University doctoral programs https://www.cgu.edu/school/ssspe/programs/

Connect with Godfrey Senkaba:

Website: https://www.mandeboost.com

Email: info@mandeboost.com

Twitter: https://x.com/senkaba_g

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/godfrey-senkaba-32452428/

Godfrey Senkaba, M&E Boost Podcast.

The international development field is facing a wave of project terminations and shrinking funding pipelines-leaving many M&E professionals in uncertainty. In this episode, host Godfrey Senkaba speaks directly to those navigating career disruption. He unpacks the concept of career resilience, introduces the idea of interdisciplinary fluency, and leads a powerful "Future Work Self" activity to help you map your next move. Whether you're between roles or seeking to future-proof your career, this episode offers practical, hopeful guidance grounded in real-world experience.

Tags: #MonitoringAndEvaluation #CareerAdaptation #EvaluationProfessionals #Interdisciplinarity #InternationalDevelopment #WiseProactivity

Resources Mentioned: Strauss & Griffin’s “Future Work Self” Exercise, Wise Proactivity article, Speaking in Codes podcast

Strauss, K., Griffin, M., and Parker, S.K., ‘‘Future work selves: How salient hoped-for identities motivate proactive career behaviors’’, Journal of Applied Psychology, 2012, 97, 580-598

Vosko, A., & Dias, S. (2023, December 11). Speaking in codes [Audio podcast episode]. In A. Vosko (Host), PostNormal Times. Simplecast. https://postnormaltimes.simplecast.com/episodes/speaking-in-codes

Connect with Godfrey Senkaba:

Website: https://www.mandeboost.com

Email: info@mandeboost.com

Twitter: https://x.com/senkaba_g

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/godfrey-senkaba-32452428/

Godfrey Senkaba, M&E Boost Podcast.