A Recap of the Global Holistic MEAL Symposium

The Global Holistic Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Symposium, held 7-9 July 2025 at ECHO Asia’s Regional Impact Center in Chiang Mai, brought together organizational leaders, researchers, and MEAL professionals for three days on the topic of measuring the transformative impact of holistic development efforts.

Day one featured sharing about challenges, successes, and lessons learned as well as case studies from various organizations.

Day two was facilitated through a charrette (pictured left) which brought together practical ideas, stimulated participants to work together, and facilitated consensus-based participation.

Day three started with a panel discussion on trust-based philanthropy, emphasizing how stories, statistics, and trust in an organization’s ethos and leadership go hand in hand. This was followed by a time of reflection.

Beyond the sessions, the symposium fostered networking and community-building. Attendees connected over shared interests, potential collaborations, and opportunities to drive meaningful change.