Episode 3: It’s Not All in the Toolkit – Centring Indigenous Knowledge in MEL

Dr. Apisalome Movono, Alessandra Mel and Ascenaca Blake dive deep into what it really means to centre Indigenous Pacific knowledge in monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) beyond checkboxes and toolkits. With Eroni Wavu, they unpack what happens when we don’t take Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) seriously as well as how IKS can shape more ethical, authentic, and context-grounded MEL.

This podcast was made possible through SPC’s Funding with Intent initiative, funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 

Please provide us feedback here: https://forms.office.com/r/yHK0eDhrex  

Guests:

• Dr. Apisalome Movono – Associate Professor of Tourism, University of the South Pacific

Fijian academic and tourism expert from Buca, Natewa in Cakaudrove, with maternal roots in Naimalavau, Nakelo, Tailevu. He is an Associate Professor of Tourism at the University of the South Pacific (USP), bringing decades of expertise to the Pacific development space.

• Alessandra Mel – Integrated Programming and Innovation Officer, SPC

A proud Pacific Islander and an experienced accredited partnership broker, futures facilitator, and MEL practitioner. With over a decade of experience working in PNG and now across the Pacific region, she has supported diverse teams and organisations to navigate complexity, build trust-based collaborations, and make sense of change. She brings a unique mix of systems thinking, creativity, and care to her work and is deeply passionate about inclusive, locally led approaches to development, and her work reflects a strong commitment to reflection, equity, and imagination.

• Asenaca Blake – Senior MEL Manager, Pacific at Conservation International

With 18 years of Pacific development experience, she facilitates learning cycles, strengthens partner capacity, and translates evidence into program and policy decisions. practice centers on Pacific-led development, Indigenous knowledge, and measurable outcomes for climate resilience, biodiversity, and community wellbeing.

Links:

People-Centred Approach (SPC): https://www.spc.int/updates/blog/dynamic-story/2024/08/ensuring-a-people-centred-approach-is-at-the-heart-of-spc-work

People-Centred Development: https://forumsec.org/people-centered-development

Kakala Research Framework:

• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/366784502_Kakala_Research_Framework

• https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/8197/1/Kakala_Research.pdf

• https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-04394-9_44