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Monitor, Report, Evaluate to Improve (MREI) - Joint Sector Reviews

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Joint Sector Reviews (JSRs) typically refer to a collaborative and comprehensive assessment or evaluation process conducted by multiple stakeholders within a particular sector. This approach is commonly employed in the context of development programs, particularly in areas such as health, education, or other public services. (ISHN and FRESH Partners are currently developing applications of how JSRs can be used to assess intersectoral or multi-sectoral coordination.)

The key features of Joint Sector Reviews include:

  1. Multi-Stakeholder Involvement: Various stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), donors, and other relevant parties, come together to participate in the review process.
  2. Comprehensive Evaluation: JSRs aim to provide a holistic and thorough assessment of the performance, challenges, and achievements within a specific sector. This involves analyzing various aspects such as policies, programs, funding mechanisms, service delivery, and overall sectoral performance.
  3. Data-Driven Analysis: The review process typically relies on data and evidence to assess the effectiveness and impact of interventions within the sector. This data-driven approach helps in making informed decisions and recommendations for future actions.
  4. Objective Setting and Monitoring: Joint Sector Reviews often involve setting objectives, goals, and targets for the sector under consideration. Subsequent reviews then assess the progress made towards these objectives, facilitating ongoing monitoring and adaptive management.
  5. Policy Recommendations: Based on the findings of the review, recommendations and policy suggestions are formulated to improve the functioning and outcomes of the sector. These recommendations may address issues related to governance, resource allocation, program design, and implementation strategies.
  6. Capacity Building: Joint Sector Reviews may also include efforts to enhance the capacity of relevant stakeholders, ensuring that they have the skills and knowledge necessary to contribute effectively to the sector's development.
Overall, Joint Sector Reviews are instrumental in promoting transparency, accountability, and collaboration among various actors involved in the development and management of a specific sector. They serve as a valuable mechanism for assessing progress, identifying challenges, and refining strategies to achieve better outcomes.

This summary was first posted in May 2021 as  a compilation of excerpts from a selected credible sources. It was revised in January 2024 as a first draft using the AI app ChatGPT. The following individuals or organizations have contributed to the development of this topic;We encourage readers to submit comments or suggested edits by posting a comment on the Mini-blog & Discussion Page for this section or posting a comment below:
The Global Partnership for Education has investigated Joint sector Reviews (JSRs). The GPE investigation found that JSRs "are commonly used in the development or humanitarian aid sectors, particularly within health and education, to bring a variety of stakeholders to the table to monitor and evaluate sector progress. GPE’s study contends that JSRs, when effective, can serve as a valuable tool for responsive sector planning, and may also act as platforms for building and supporting mutual accountability. JSRs are typically organized once or twice a year by the government, and offer an inclusive forum to assess progress toward agreed-upon objectives. A variety of sources of evidence are used to frame the discussions—primarily presented via an annual implementation report. The JSR process culminates in the organization of an inclusive forum for dialogue and the production of a review report (the JSR report/aide memoire) that is shared with all stakeholders and the wider public, and which contains actionable recommendations for correcting the course of action across programs within the sector". The GPE full report provides background, research and examples. GPE has also published a Practical guide for organizing effective joint sector reviews. The Rural Water & Sanitation Forum has published an excellent checklist on the use of JSR collaborative planning in WASH programs. One 2009 assessment of the use of JSRs in three low resource countries found that " They are increasingly utilised on the ground, yet, so far, there do not exist any systematic stocktakings and/or analyses of them. Our own analysis of a sample of JSRs from the education sectors of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger indicate that JSRs score highly on harmonisation, coordination, leadership and broad-based participation, but poorly on alignment. They generally prioritise accountability over learning needs and largely neglect accountability and learning at the level of the sector institutional apparatus." This article offers several citations describing the underlying assumptions of JSR with insights from evaluation theory and practice.


This summary was first posted in May 2021 as  a compilation of excerpts from a selected credible sources. The following individuals or organizations have contributed to the development of this topic;We encourage readers to submit comments or suggested edits by posting a comment on the Mini-blog & Discussion Page for this section or posting a comment below:
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 Bibliography/Toolbox on
Key research, reports and resources on this topic are highlighted below.  Many of the topics in this web site also have extensive bibliographies/toolboxes (BTs) published as separate documents. Click on this web link to access the full version of our Bibliography/Toolbox on this topic. These lists use our outline for these collections that we have developed over several years of curating these materials.
Research
Reports, Resources


Understand the Approach/ Program & Its Effectiveness in Different Contexts on Different Aspects of HPSD, Populations


How to Implement, Maintain, Scale Up, Sustain, Build Capacity, Leverage to Support Core Components.


How to integrate within Education Systems

Use of Ecological/ Systems Approach



Research Questions/
KDE Agenda
Understand the Approach/ Program & Its Effectiveness in Different Contexts on Different Aspects of HPSD, Populations


How to Implement, Maintain, Scale Up, Sustain, Build Capacity, Leverage to Support Core Components.


How to integrate within Education Systems

Use of Ecological/ Systems Approach



Research Questions/
KDE Agenda
The following additional resources are posted on this web site or published by other credible sources. Please send any suggested additions to i[email protected]
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The number of summaries completed or drafted in this section are listed below)

- Overview
  • MREI of What: Student Learning? Youth Behaviours? Health & Development? Status of Policies and Programs?
  • Evidence, Reports & Data about the Impact of MREI Systems
  • Examples & Models of MREI Systems
- Key Definitions/Descriptions
  • Monitoring
    - Out of School/Dropout Data
    - Administrative Data Systems (EMIS)
    - Child & Adolescent Health & Development Status
    - Child & Adolescent Attitudes, Behaviours & Development
    - Teacher Norm-based Assessments of Student Development
    - School Physical Conditions & Resources
    - School Psycho-Socail Environment & Supports
    - Student Incidents, Suspensions & Injury Data
    - Student knowledge, skills, learning (Instruction & Extended Education)
    - Health, Development & Employment of Young Adults
    - Teacher Wellness, Work Lives, Supply, Qualifications, Development, Concerns
    - Education Faculty Programs/Capacity
    - Use, Training of Other Professionals
  • Reporting
    - Different Reporting Formats (Progress Reports, Success Stories, Practice Stories, Case & Cohort Studies, Inventories & Intervention Mapping, RCTs and Reviews)
    - Global, Regional, National Updates
    - School Accreditation/Award Programs
    - Policy/Program Surveys
    - Practitioner, Student,Parent or  Community Satisfaction Surveys
    - Consolidated Reports on Children, Adolescents & Young Adults
  • Evaluating/Assessing/Analyzing
    - Scheduled Program Evaluations
    - Planned or Post-Hoc Case Studies
    - School Inspections
    - Access, Reach, Response Times of School-based and School-Linked Services
    - Access, Reach, Breadth of Extended Education Activities
    - Student Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes in Health & Life Skills Education (tests and Surveys)
    - Health, Safety & Environmental Conditions in and Near Schools
  • Improving
    - Self-Assessment Tools
    - School Recognition Programs
    - Using Student, Parent, Neighbourhood & Teacher Satisfaction Surveys
    - Using School Improvement Planning
    - Using Joint Sector Reviews
    - Using Health, Social, Other Sector Quality Management Systems
- Key Concepts/Insights/Issues
  • Competition among Monitors
  • Accountability-Purposes, Politics, People, Shared
  • Indicators: Valid, Relevant or Convenient?
  • Continuous Improvement
  • Logic Models: Linear or Complex?
  • Data-driven decision-making
  • Intrinsic or Extrinsic Motivators within Systems
- How to Implement, Maintain, Scale Up, Sustain, Build Capacity, Adapt to Different Contexts, Leverage to Support Core Components
  • Data Sharing Across & Within Systems
  • Coordinated Data Collection & Analysis
  • Segmenting & Comparing Data by Country & Community Contexts
  • Building MREI Capacity in Countries
How to integrate within Education Systems
  • Educator Experiences with High-Stakes, Standardized Testing
  • Time Frames for Education Change vs Other Sector Programs
  • Teacher, Administrator & Other Adopter Concerns
- Implications of Ecological/ Systems Approach
  • Shared MREI in Multiple, Complex, Loosely Coupled Systems
  • Within Child/Youth Reporting Systems in other Sectors
  • Links with Early Childhood Education
  • Links with Post-Secondary Education
- Research Questions/Knowledge Development
  • Research Programs/Knowledge Centres
  • Impact on Student Learning
  • Cost Effectiveness, Cost Benefits
  • Research Methods & Data Collection Issues