The 2026
Molly Hageboeck Award for Excellence
We are pleased to announce the 2026 edition of The Molly Hageboeck Award for Excellence in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), crafted to acknowledge significant contributions that resonate with Molly Hageboeck’s focus on practical, rigorous, and
impactful practices in international development.
The awards span two distinct categories
Innovation in MEL Practice Award
Eligibility: Global entities and individuals that have demonstrated significant innovation in MEL methodology and practice within the past three years, showcasing effective integration and real-world impacts of their MEL activities.
Advancement in MEL Training and Capacity Building Award
Eligibility: Local MEL practitioners with a minimum of two years experience and a proven community track record, having a viable proposal for a project to be implemented within the next two years.
Evaluation Criteria
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Innovation
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Potential Impact
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Feasibility
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Alignment with Molly Hageboeck’s Vision
Description: The novelty and originality of the methods, practices, or policies being proposed or showcased.
Measurement:
– Uniqueness of the approach/method.
– Advancement beyond existing methods.
Description: The anticipated positive effects on the MEL field or a specific community, reflecting on practical and sustainable benefits.
Measurement:
– Scalability and replicability.
– Demonstrated or projected benefits.
Description: The practicality, scalability, and the likelihood of successful implementation of the proposed method, practice, or project.
Measurement:
– Realistic implementation plan.
– Availability of resources.
Description: The extent to which the nomination or proposal embodies Molly’s emphasis on practical solutions, rigorous approaches, and impactful international development practices.
Measurement:
– Demonstrated commitment to practical solutions.
– Rigorous methodological approaches.
– Evidence of impactful outcomes.
We extend an invitation to individuals, teams, or organizations globally, who are vested in the advancement of MEL, to submit their nominations and showcase their contributions to the field.
Key Dates
Commencement of Award Submissions and Review Committee Applications.
November 10
Closure of Award Submissions and Review Committee Applications.
January 22
Shortlisting Phase.
February 1 -March 1
Final Review and Selection.
March 15
Award Ceremony and Cocktail Reception.
April (TBA)
The Molly Hageboeck MEL Award aims to maintain a standard of recognition while encouraging future innovation in MEL. Through this initiative, we aspire to create a narrative of continuous advancement in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning.
Engage with us on social media using #MollyMELAward and spread the word within your networks.
2026 Molly Hageboeck Award Recipients
We are thrilled to present the 2026 Molly Hageboeck Award Recipients and recognize them for their exceptional contributions to the field and commitment to advancing the principles of MEL aligned with Molly Hageboeck’s vision

Veronica Olazabal
Innovation in MEL Practice

Abdullahi Ibrahim
Advancement in MEL
Training and Capacity Building
2025 Molly Hageboeck Award Recipients
We are thrilled to present the 2025 Molly Hageboeck Award Recipients and recognize them for their exceptional contributions to the field and commitment to advancing the principles of MEL aligned with Molly Hageboeck’s vision

Dr. Jyotsna (Jo) Puri
Innovation in MEL Practice

Srdjan Vujovic
Advancement in MEL
Training and Capacity Building
Review Committee
Lynn Carter, PHD
Senior adviser for governance and conflict
Awards Selection Committee Member
With more than 30 years’ experience, Lynn provides technical guidance to analytic and field projects tackling governance, conflict, fragility, and extremism. Having worked intensively in the Middle East and South
Asia, she has strong skills in assessment and applied research, project design, capacity building and monitoring and evaluation.
Jill Tirnauer
Strategy + Evaluation + Impact Management Leader
Awards Selection Committee Member
Top-performing M&E leader with 15+ years experience directing design, collection, visualization, analysis, and reporting of data that enhance current implementation and future program design.
Innovative thinker with history of introducing novel approaches, tools, and technologies for M&E assignments among hard to reach populations.
Jennifer L. Mandel, PhD
Program and Project Management Professional with International Development, Gender, and M&E expertise.
Awards Selection Committee Member
Project Management: Extensive experience hiring, training and managing international and local teams of up to 50, and managing complex multi-project portfolios up to $12 million USD. Comprehensive knowledge of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and European Union (EU) rules and regulations.
Cindy Clapp-Wincek
Independent Consultant, Retired Director of USAID Office of Learning, Evaluation and Research
Awards Selection Committee Member
International development program evaluation expert with over 30 years experience in public private partnerships, conflict and high threat environments, hunger, policy reform, child labor & education, roads, irrigation, private sector, and world health issues. Proven team leader and manager, able to unify team with forward focus on goals and bring out best possible performance in individuals
Pamela Johnson
Chief Health Officer
Awards Selection Committee Member
Pamela Johnson is the founder of PSJ Advisors. Ms. Johnson has over 20 years of leadership experience in housing finance and risk management. She brings a unique blend of analytical and problem-solving skills to her engagements. She has been a champion of balanced and prudent risk management strategies and housing policies that protect and strengthen businesses, consumers and communities.
Larry Cooley
President Emeritus and Senior Advisor at Management Systems International
Awards Selection Committee Member
Larry Cooley founded Management Systems International (MSI), an international development consulting firm, in 1981 and served as its president until March 2015, when he transitioned to president emeritus and senior adviser. Before founding MSI, he worked at the World Bank, UN Development Programme, Practical Concepts, and as a Peace Corps volunteer.
Gerald M. Britan
Independent International Development Consultant
Awards Selection Committee Member
Gerald M. Britan has more than 40 years of experience planning, managing and
evaluating international development programs, with particular emphasis on development
effectiveness, development learning, and development management.
2024 Molly Hageboeck Award Recipients
In 2024, the inaugural Molly Hageboeck Award for Excellence in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) honored individuals and teams whose work exemplified innovation, impact, and alignment with Molly Hageboeck’s vision.

Savi Mull
Innovation in MEL Methodology

Mariana Xavier
Innovation in MEL Methodology

Lee Alexander Risby
Innovation in MEL Methodology

Nehal Ali
Excellence in MEL Practice

Brenda Bucheli
Advancement in MEL Training
and Capacity Building
About Molly
Molly Hageboeck was I4DI’s MERL Director Emerita. Winner of USAID’s Excellence in Evaluation Award, Ms. Hageboeck was an expert in performance monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) system design and improvement, whose clients included USAID, the U.S. Department of Labor, multilateral donors (UNDP, UNCDF, UNECA), the Government of Zambia and multiple non-governmental organizations.
Ms. Hageboeck provided technical leadership for USAID MEL projects in Uganda, South Sudan and USAID’s Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment. Her landmark reports, Meta Evaluation of the Quality and Coverage of USAID Evaluations, and Evaluation Utilization at USAID are highlighted on that Agency’s main evaluation webpage. Her evaluation of the U.S. government’s $5 billion investment trade capacity building through 35 U.S. government agencies highlighted “what worked” and led to a policy update as well as the creation of Project Starter, a comprehensive online MEL training resource for managers of U.S. government trade capacity and other technical portfolios.
In 2019 her two newest studies, Learning from Evaluation Syntheses, and Impact Evaluation: Critical Challenges/Promising Solutions were released. Ms. Hageboeck was an expert evaluation trainer, whose Certificate Program in Evaluation, pioneered at George Washington University, and taught most recently at Georgetown University, has been provided on site for non-governmental organizations and for USAID Missions worldwide.
Ms. Hageboeck earlier served as Chief of Staff at USAID. She is a long-term member of the American Evaluation association and served as the Executive Vice President of the consulting firm that developed the Logical Framework and facilitated its institutionalization in foreign assistance agencies worldwide. She held a Master’s in Public Administration from Princeton University.
Join Us in Celebrating Excellence in MEL – Become a Sponsor
We invite likeminded organizations to partner with us in sponsoring the prestigious Molly Hageboeck Excellence in MEL Award. This collaboration offers a unique opportunity to support and recognize outstanding professionals in the field of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning.
Partner with us to honor the legacy of Molly Hageboeck and to inspire a future where decisions are data-driven and practices are constantly evolving for the betterment of our communities.