Who we are
We’re a small purpose-driven consultancy that exists to support organisations build strong programmes, advocacy demands and campaigns, communicate about their impact, understand their funding-base and explore what is and what is not working.
Based in Scotland, but with a global network of associates, merl brings a wide variety of grounded experience in collaboratively developing monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks and plans, capacity building, programme development, management and funding. We use this knowledge to understand our clients’ needs and support them to integrate learning and research processes into their work. We use system-thinking and people-centred feminist approaches to deliver services which fit our clients’ needs.
Our principles
Collaborative: We collaborate closely with our clients, going on a learning journey together to achieve our joint objectives.
Practical: We work with practitioners who will use and implement the frameworks, approach and tools to ensure they can be embedded into their work and provide them with the information they need. Our recommendations are practical and actionable.
Inclusive: We are aware of power dynamics and work to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard, especially those people that the programme, movement or organisation is working with and for.
Anti-racist: We take an anti-racist approach to our work, regularly check-in on our unconscious biases, value lived experience and grounded expertise and seek to understand who is and who isn’t being consulted and influencing decision-making.
Accessible: Our outputs are written in an accessible form and we build in time and budget to give feedback to those that have contributed towards it.
A diverse network of Consultants
We believe in ensuring that we are representative of the target population and are topic experts. We have a UK and global network of lived and grounded experience consultants from over 16 countries.
merl’s network means that projects can include different team members, drawing on sector and/or lived-experience expertise to meet the needs of our clients.
We also collaborate with other consultancies such as The Research People and Learning and Change.
If you would like to join our network or collaborate please get in touch.
Joanna Knight - Founding Director
“merl helped our grantee partners reflect on and refine how they track and assess their progress. Joanna did a great job taking a real interest in the projects, taking into consideration the specific situations of each organisation, offering guidance in a really supportive posture. Her fluid communication and respect for deadlines were also greatly appreciated.” Marie Laure Muchery, Fund Director, Civitates