My Communities

Some people or researchers may "harm or heal." Well, it is essential for the evaluator/data collector to be aware of the kind of data to be collected, from whom it will be collected, and the purpose for which it will be used. Data should be collected from people who are willingly providing it (with understandable and approved consent, either verbally or in writing).

yes, releasing the data could prove harmful. then again, all data has the potential to me misused or misconstrued

yes, releasing the data could prove harmful. then again, all data has the potential to me misused or misconstrued. And in the case of the pharmaceutical, it is imperative to disclose they are a donor.

yes, releasing the data could prove harmful. then again, all data has the potential to me misused or misconstrued. And in the case of the pharmaceutical, it is imperative to disclose they are a donor.

Cultural competence skills are really important. I, my team, should try to study mroe about the cultural traditiosn, dynamics in the context we are carrying out an assessment. Also, seek to have those with knowledge of the language spoken carry out the data collection

Ethical behavior is crucial in data collection because it ensures that data is collected in a manner that respects individuals' rights, privacy, and dignity. Ethical behavior in data collection means that data is collected in a way that is transparent, fair, and consistent with legal and ethical standards.

"Do No Harm" is a guiding principle in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) that emphasizes the importance of avoiding harm to individuals, communities, and the environment in the course of implementing projects or programs. The principle is derived from the field of medicine, where it is used to guide ethical decision-making and patient care. In M&E, it means that the evaluation process should not cause any harm to the people or communities being evaluated or to the environment.

The "Do No Harm" principle has several implications for M&E. First, it means that the M&E process should be designed in a way that minimizes any negative impact on the people and communities being evaluated. This includes ensuring that the data collection methods used are sensitive to cultural and social contexts, and that the privacy and confidentiality of participants are protected.

Second, it means that the evaluation process should not exacerbate existing power imbalances or create new ones. This requires a thoughtful approach to how the evaluation is designed and implemented, with a focus on engaging all stakeholders in the process and ensuring that their voices are heard.

Third, the "Do No Harm" principle means that the evaluation process should take into account the potential environmental impact of the project or program being evaluated. This includes considering the impact of any interventions on natural resources and ecosystems, and taking steps to mitigate any negative impact.

In summary, the "Do No Harm" principle is an important consideration in M&E, as it emphasizes the need to prioritize the well-being of people and the environment in the course of implementing and evaluating projects and programs. By incorporating this principle into the design and implementation of M&E processes, it is possible to ensure that evaluations are conducted ethically and responsibly, with a focus on creating positive outcomes for all stakeholders.

Do not harm means in the entire M&E process no one should be affected or harmed by M&E activities in any way, the activities should be carried out with the full consent of the interviewee, in addition, the confidentiality should be kept and the collected information should not share with others except the permitted one by the interviewee.

yes indeed, it must includes the above principles when you are conducting data collection.

this is a very important and sensitive subject that can not be over emphasized. Privacy, confidentiality and dignity should always be key whenever dealing with a respondent or participant as the case may be. Do No Harm.

So, how can you ensure that your M&E practices cause no harm to participants, stakeholders or other people?

Consider the experience of your participants.

Think about the people from whom you are collecting data. What is the experience of providing data like? Is it stressful and confusing or simple and intuitive? Is it time-consuming or efficient?

Unfortunately, all too often, organizations design data collection processes that are too large, time-consuming or stressful.

One common example of this phenomenon is academic testing. In an effort to understand whether academic programs are working, many school systems around the world have implemented standardized tests. However, as the length and number of these tests have grown, some people have become concerned that children now spend too much time preparing for tests and too little time participating in other worthwhile activities. The measurement instrument, according to some, is damaging the educational experience of the participants.

Ensure that all participants give informed consent to collect and use their data.

In the past, many people have participated in studies without understanding the risks involved. As a result, these people have suffered.

This is why it is so important to ensure that the people you are collecting data from understand exactly what they are agreeing to participate in.

Depending on the type of data that you are collecting, there may be particular laws or regulations with which you need to comply. Rules for obtaining informed consent can be particularly complex when you are doing medical research or working with vulnerable populations like children, prisoners or the intellectually disabled

Do no harm has to honor the dignity,self Worthy and well-being of the participants
It should avoid physical, emotional and reputational damages either intentionally and or unintentionally to people affected with the study or work.
Consider the experience of the participants in terms of emotions, length of questions ,age, procedures and, tools used for collection of data .
Use the informed consents highlighting rules, risks and benefits especially for the children,disabled and prisoners.
Confidentiality and enonymous Data storage and avoid areas that may expose existing inequities.

Yes , if collecting Data especially for medical research that involves the collection of samples,or even revisit to their past experiences.

The different principles that guide M&E work in the field are essential as they provide safe bases under which work can be done. In very sensible areas or crises areas, these principle will ensure secures data. Mostly, when data is been collected, the emotional aspect of it is been neglected as it sometimes stimulates or brings back emotional damage to the respondents

Do no harm (DNH) helps aid workers to identify conflict-exacerbating impacts of assistance, in particular how decisions and actions can affect inter-group relations. At its core is analysis of dividing and connecting issues and actors, which should be done with local partners and regularly updated during project implementation.

This is notably a nice thing to remember in collecting data

This is an important thing to remember in data collection

Do no harm includes:

1. Get the right people to get Day from
2. People should consent before getting data
3. Data should be kept confident
4. Data should be used for the right purpose.

Do no harm includes:

1. Get the right people to get data from with experience
2. People should consent
3. Data should be kept confident
4. People should use data right

it is always important that the promises made before the data is collected it kept and not just for the records

1. Ensure that all participants give informed consent to collect and use their data. This may sometimes involve having participants sign consent forms formally.

2. Keeping data anonymous and confidential: This may but not limited to having those with authority to sign non disclosure form, with explicit provisions of liability.

I think ethics comes in for example in instances where the law isn't explicitly clear on obtaining consent from people, its not ethical to to ignore it, its proper to disclose to the participants the importance of their consent

One should always honor the dignity, well-bein an self worth of individuals and not cause physical ,emotional and reputational damage to those affected by ones work.

sometimes if the data related with environmental that might cause clashes with big factories and if they know one of they employee share an information they may distracted from job.

Honor the dignity of individuals.

M&E processes can ensure that they are not doing harm to the communities they are working with, and that they are being responsible and respectful in their data collection and analysis.

Akmal Elam

True. Completely true.

I totally agree with the points above, sometimes it is causing mistrust when you even note that the data provided by the survey participants are anonymous. You need to clearly define and look through different angles.

Do no harm as an ethical issue is very vital for several reasons especially if the participants are assured. Having participated in data collection, sometimes it is hectic especially when collecting data from large groups which must be kept for longer hours before they are interviewed. Many times people who are less privileged in society are the targeted for projects such as healthy or livelihood programs. It is therefore imperative that such individuals who risked and sacrifced their time to be protected

As a central Idea, it is important to use data that is publicly available. If the data is not publicly available, caution should always be exercised to indeed avoid causing garm

We have to be cautious how we communicate the information. While being truthful that a section of the community does cause problems, it must also be said that the entire community cannot be blamed. We can invite the politicians to look upon this data as an opportunity to hear the grievances of the people who are causing problems and find a peaceful solution.

We have to be cautious how we communicate the information. While being truthful that a section of the community does cause problems, it must also be said that the entire community cannot be blamed. We can invite the politicians to look upon this data as an opportunity to hear the grievances of the people who are causing problems and find a peaceful solution.

Having cultural skills is equally important to knowing technical skills. If your team does not have the required skills, that must be communicated to the donors. Efforts should be made to equip the team with the necessary skills to conduct the study.

Do No Harm: Very important step to prevent organizations from cause unintended harm to those they meant to help. I can provide one example: We make sure to redact identifying information about beneficiaries of one of the programs I manage. This is done by program staff, before sharing information received from the field to donors.

I believe that one of the principles is to be confident. In that way, I cannot share the data related to certain individuals or groups.

I think that being anonymous and confidential is on the one side, on the other side the end users of the data's we collect can actually be the cause of harm, so how can we stop this.

Yes, the data suggesting that people belonging to a low status group have committed crimes could be used by political opponents to further increase biases and damage their reputations. Though this data might be factual, it is important to consider how it could be perceived by others. Individuals from all groups commit crimes, but the crimes committed by select members of a low-status group might be specifically and unjustly attributed to their group status. Thus, considerations about how the data you collect could be used to perpetuate biases are very important because this data could have implications beyond your initial intent.

Ethical principles are leaning on three essential principles of ethical behavior within M&E which are, do no harm, honesty and lastly competence. We have so far discussed 'do no harm' where we said in the process of collecting data one should avoid intentionally or unintentionally causing physical, emotional or reputational damage to other people who are part of your work. To ensure that your work does not cause harm, one should consider the experience of their participants. One should also ensure that all participants give informed consent to collect information needed and in the use of it. there should also be a consideration that when appropriate, participant data be kept anonymous and confidential. one should identify and avoid potential areas where your data may exacerbate existing inequities.

It's a process of avoiding any containment of the sensitive information to be shared with people that have not properly understood.

The key learnings is that:

1. Consider the participants' experience in data collection to avoid making it stressful or time-consuming.
2. Obtain informed consent from participants, especially in sensitive research areas or with vulnerable populations.
3. Safeguard participant data by ensuring anonymity and confidentiality to protect their reputation and safety.
4. Be mindful of how data can exacerbate existing inequities and potential harm to individuals or groups.
5. Anticipate how released data can be used by others, including political opponents, to avoid further damage.

Even if you are extremely careful about collecting and presenting accurate data without any prejudice, there is no guarantee that the people who read about your data will be so careful

We have to be very careful when disclosing identify of beneficiaries even to donors to and have a consent when interviewing and taking pictures/video of beneficiaries.

"Do No Harm" is a concept I encountered a little over a year ago when our new senior leader stepped in. To me the concept is rather a question and compass if we are still doing what we intend to deliver? Are we putting our project participants in an alleviated status or worse than when we first came in? It is a question whether we are fundamentally changing the identity of the affected population? "Do No Harm" is a good reminder that even with the best intention in mind, we are still capable of fostering dangers and damages to our communities.

It is important to treat data as confidential. The data collectors should not disclose the people who are answering the questioners (if your survey is in questioners). It is wise to not include name, surname and address to avid harm.

It is very important to keep/treat data as confidential at all times.

As discussed, the above 4 points are agreeable. However, I would suggest data verification with participants is also important. Sometimes, you may have different languages and some essential information can be lost during an interview or translation. That would be good to wrap up the meeting and verify your data or information with participants whether they are accurate or missing some information. Then, consent can be obtained from the participants.

I love this course, it reflects very important points of ME, thank you!

There are four main principals to consider when following the ethical principal of "do no harm". First, one must consider the participants experience when designing their data collection tools. It is important that data collection is a comfortable experience for the one being surveyed. Secondly, you must ensure that there is informed consent by all participants. It is important that participants know their data is being collected, and how their data will be used in the future. Third, it is important to ensure that all participant data is anonymous where it is applicable. Some data collected can be extremely sensitive, and it is important to respect the privacy of the participant. Finally, it is important to consider how your data can be used by others to support their own beliefs, and if the data presented could be used in some way to harm others. Each of these principals is important, however I believe that many people do not consider the last category. It is difficult to know how others may use your data to disparage others, and collectors should be very cautious and thoughtful in this area.

There are four main principals to consider when following the ethical principal of "do no harm". First, one must consider the participants experience when designing their data collection tools. It is important that data collection is a comfortable experience for the one being surveyed. Secondly, you must ensure that there is informed consent by all participants. It is important that participants know their data is being collected, and how their data will be used in the future. Third, it is important to ensure that all participant data is anonymous where it is applicable. Some data collected can be extremely sensitive, and it is important to respect the privacy of the participant. Finally, it is important to consider how your data can be used by others to support their own beliefs, and if the data presented could be used in some way to harm others. Each of these principals is important, however I believe that many people do not consider the last category. It is difficult to know how others may use your data to disparage others, and collectors should be very cautious and thoughtful in this area.

There are four main principals to consider when following the ethical principal of "do no harm". First, one must consider the participants experience when designing their data collection tools. It is important that data collection is a comfortable experience for the one being surveyed. Secondly, you must ensure that there is informed consent by all participants. It is important that participants know their data is being collected, and how their data will be used in the future. Third, it is important to ensure that all participant data is anonymous where it is applicable. Some data collected can be extremely sensitive, and it is important to respect the privacy of the participant. Finally, it is important to consider how your data can be used by others to support their own beliefs, and if the data presented could be used in some way to harm others. Each of these principals is important, however I believe that many people do not consider the last category. It is difficult to know how others may use your data to disparage others, and collectors should be very cautious and thoughtful in this area.

Privacy and user consent must be respected when initiating a data collection project.

Just like a scientific research that also based on data, M&E activities are very rely on the data we have collected and managed. And I agree that the way we collect the data is very important and need to be based on such ethical values, not only rely on the data themselves.

The chances of the politicians using this data to qualify their opinions is very high. This is so because quite often, politicians try their best to stay away from anything that might tarnish their their political careers. In this case, taking in the blame of being contributors to their behaviors of this group of people. In addition, being politicians, they could not be in a better position to properly make conclusions in reference to how much some of these people have contributed to the overall crimes in general with regard to all the people that live in the area where this grouping of people was sampled out.

Therefore, the end result could indeed be that this data could potentially be used to further damage this group of people.

This involves honoring participants well-being, dignity and self-worth by considering their experiences, ensuring that participants give consent and keeping their data confidential and anonymous.

Anonymity and confidentiality is a must for avoiding harm in M&E system.

I think this is really an exciting and interesting part in every M&E process. Although in my previous experiences in research, I may not have really considered any specific laws, but as a matter of common sense, I do understand that there are certain information people we meet during research and M&E are willing to give, but would not give such information when called upon in an open discussion. This for me means that it is my responsibility to ensure that people's privacy are protected at all length.

It is however better if organizations have policies that support that strengthen the adherence to upholding these ethical issues, with specific mention of what they are for each organization. Otherwise, people might easily not know when they fall short of ethical standards.

With in do no harm, we consider the M&E practices. Which help us with to avoid harm to the participants, steckholders and other people who participated in the project or program, those practices includes: considering how others will use the data, ocnsider participants confidentiality, participants should sign informed consent of accepting the use of the information or data they provided.

With in do no harm, we consider the M&E practices. Which help us with to avoid harm to the participants, steckholders and other people who participated in the project or program, those practices includes: considering how others will use the data, ocnsider participants confidentiality, participants should sign informed consent of accepting the use of the information or data they provided.

Ethical practices should be analyzed by the whole group in charge of a project, not just the M&E team, and said practices must be followed throughout the implementation phase.

When we collect data from the community or school it is so important that the data collection team is sprite and only they were responsible for that no harm of this data from others. and it is important that all is confidential, safe space.

the way data is collected should not impose harm on the participants.

I never knew that competence is part of ethical principle. It helps to curb people from just starting projects , without having the competence therof.

I never knew that competence is part of ethical principle. It helps to curb people from just starting projects , without having the competence therof.

I think no one ever wants to intentionally deliver harm , but it is so easy to do it.

Harm can be easilly done by people

Yes thats very true , thats where consent plays a big role

Honor the dignity well being.
Don't couse physical, emotional or reputational damage.
How can we ensure that our M&E couse no harm.
Consider the experience of your participants.
Ensure that all participants give informed consent to collect and use their data

do not harm other people for physically and mentally

Do not harm is apparently a simple idea, but possesses a lot of complexities. One may see an idea from one aspect and other may see it from different aspect. Hence, one has to be active to collect data and examine it from as many aspects as possible.

Honor the dignity ,well being.
do not couse physical ,emotional or reputational damage .
how you ensure your M&E couse no harm.
consider the experiance of your participants .
ensure that all participants give informed consent to collect and use their data

Honor the dignity, well being.
Do not couse physical ,emotional or reputational damage.
How you ensure your M&E couse no harm
Consider the experience of your participants.
Ensure that all participants give informed consent to collect and use their data

Very important and sensitive aspect of M&E . Very nice to come across this

it is very import in community

It is very important to avoid causing harm to others with use of data

and that is the ethical spirit, unbaised.

Identifying and avoiding potential areas where data may exacerbate existing inequities is crucial to ensure fairness and equity in decision-making processes. Here are some key considerations:

1. Biased data collection: Biases can be introduced during data collection if the sample is not representative or if there are inherent biases in the data collection methods. It's important to ensure diverse representation in the data collection process to avoid underrepresenting or excluding certain groups. This can be achieved by using inclusive sampling techniques and involving community members in the data collection process.

2. Data preprocessing and cleaning: Preprocessing and cleaning of data can inadvertently reinforce biases if not done carefully. Biases can be introduced through data cleaning techniques, such as imputation or outlier removal, if they are not applied consistently across different demographic groups. It's important to assess the potential impact of preprocessing steps on different groups and to consider alternative methods to mitigate biases.

3. Missing data and underrepresentation: Missing data can lead to skewed results if certain groups are disproportionately missing from the dataset. It's important to analyze and address missing data patterns to ensure fair representation. Techniques such as multiple imputation or sensitivity analysis can be used to handle missing data appropriately.

4. Overgeneralization and stereotyping: Drawing broad conclusions or making generalizations based on limited or biased data can perpetuate stereotypes and exacerbate inequities. It's crucial to analyze data within the appropriate context and avoid making assumptions about individuals or groups based on limited information.

5. Intersectionality: Intersectionality refers to the overlapping of various social identities and experiences, such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, and more. Failing to consider intersectionality in data analysis can overlook the unique experiences and challenges faced by individuals with multiple marginalized identities. It's important to analyze data through an intersectional lens and consider the varying impacts on different groups.

6. Ethical considerations: Ethical considerations surrounding data use and privacy can also impact equity. Ensuring informed consent, protecting personal information, and being transparent about data collection and usage practices are essential to avoid exacerbating inequities or violating individuals' rights.

To address these potential pitfalls, it's important to involve diverse perspectives in data collection and analysis, critically evaluate the data at each stage, and consider the broader social context in which the data is situated. Regularly reviewing and questioning assumptions and biases within the data analysis process can help mitigate the risk of exacerbating existing inequities.

Yes! Sure it will, this is a critical component of data management. With the above-mentioned case study, the practitioner may be in the know, but in events where he/she doesn't know the thought of a certain group of people on others, it may be extremely difficult.

this is a key aspect in monitoring and evaluation

Data collection method and tool design are all hard work because you have to anticipate such cultural and context differences. For example, going paperless is not meant to be for all especially in locations with poor connectivity.

Furthermore, I learned that conflict of interests statement must be honest in order to minimize all bias and make the study useful for presentation.

Good evening,

Apart from non disclosure of information there is also re-using information without being permitted. Plagiarism!

It musn't be a further damage to this groupe of people. The politicians should act with no harm with this low group of individuals.

I think it is very important that the data collect should cause no harm, I fully agree with the do no harm.

This has been very informative, there a number of things that I have been doing in my professional career that are actually going aganist a lo

to identify unintended negative or positive impacts of humanitarian and development interventions in settings where there is conflict or risk of conflict.

The component of" Do not harm" considered to to be honest and maintain the dignity, confidentiality and self- worth of the individuals. Ensuring not to have any physical, emotional or reputational damage to them. Also consider the existing experiences of the individuals while including their data, taking their informed consent and identify and avoid potential areas where your data may increase the problems of downtrodden individuals/community.

It will be very important to avoid instances whereby information collected can fall into the wrong hands. That itself can cripple the objective of the study. Therefore, there would be a need to restrict an access to data by the external forces. Such data collected should be highly encrypt to avoid a loss or loophole for anyone who has no authority to access it. On the other hand, a confidential policy should be implemented to restrict anyone to giving out information that is confidential to people who are not entitled to having it. Above all, a cyber security program can also be adopted or implemented to monitor any shortfalls that may take place incase of data loss or accessibility by the external forces.

interesting module

Ethical concerns should be the top priority. These will help to create a foundation that will develop trust among the stakeholders.

Please, be careful. Your data is not for all people. You and only you know what the data mean and how can for any one using this data for bad things.

oui, ces données peuvent être utilisées par les opposants pour démontrer que le parti politique au pouvoir ne fait pas correctement sont travail d'ou les déviances observées

When dealing with personal information the protection of personal information is very crucial and ensuring that the data is note easily accessible.
Most of all integrity is very essential

Do no harm is an important ethical principle as it helps us to remain focused on the project during our data collection and ensuring we honor the dignity, well being and self worthy of individuals. we are further reminded to ensure participants give informed consent as they provide information during data collection. it also reminds us to ensure participants remain anonymous so that we do not attach individuals to data collected. These will help us in ensuring we get a reduction in data bias.

Ethical considerations are paramount in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) practices. This involves ensuring the well-being of individuals and minimizing potential harm. Ethical M&E requires thoughtful data collection, transparency, informed consent, data anonymity, and an awareness of how data may be used. The aim is to enrich participants' experiences and contribute positively to society.
Neglecting ethical considerations in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) practices can result in a range of significant drawbacks for a company. These include reputation damage, legal consequences, loss of stakeholder trust, data breaches, harm to participants, impaired decision-making, regulatory risks, and a potential loss of competitive advantage. Prioritizing ethical M&E is essential for building trust, safeguarding the company's reputation, and mitigating these risks effectively.

Before collecting any data it is useful to stop and assess the situation, to make sure that money and time is
not wasted. The basic principles of data collection include keeping things as simple as possible; planning
the entire process of data selection, collection, analysis and use from the start; and ensuring that any data
collected is valid, reliable and credible. all of the previously mentioned factors could not be ensured unless they are done in an honest way.

Yes..the data found by me in this case could further destroy or damage this group of people because the data clearly shows that these people committed crimes and at the same time the political people looking for this same kind of people.Thereby putting their lives even more at stake.

Considering the experience of participants is such an underrated insight.

I agree! .. I think In the context of M&E data collection, adhering to the "Do No Harm" principle and they must ensures that data collection is conducted in a manner that respects participants' rights, minimizes potential harm, and contributes to the well-being of the communities involved.

M&E practitioners should be transparent about the purpose and objectives of the M&E process, the data collection methods, and the use of the data collected. This involves providing participants with clear informatoin about the M&E process and ensuring that they understand the purpose and implications of their participation.

This is very insightful

Seeking consent can minimize any harm that may come from respondents