An Interview with MEL Specialist Tessa King-Spooner

Meet Tessa King-Spooner, our senior specialist in monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), based in Trinidad and Tobago. Working in tandem with Bixal’s Barbados office, Tessa serves our USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean MEL Services Activity (ESC MELSA). With over a decade of experience in research and MEL, Tessa champions data-driven decision-making and strategic planning with expertise in social and demographic statistics, data management, and policy analysis. Through her unwavering commitment to excellence and collaboration, Tessa plays a pivotal role in guiding and managing the performance monitoring portfolio at Bixal, leaving a lasting impact on 11 countries in Caribbean region.

In our most recent Bixaler Spotlight, Tessa opens up about her journey at Bixal, her drive for making a difference, her most rewarding moments at work, and her vision for the future of the MEL field. Click here if you'd like to listen to Tessa's interview.

Tessa, could you share why you joined the team at Bixal?

What drew me to Bixal was its unwavering dedication to delivering high-quality MEL and collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) services to clients. Bixal's focus on pioneering strategies and meaningful projects resonates with my core professional beliefs and MEL expertise. The chance to contribute within a supportive and forward-thinking environment that fosters growth, and continuous learning greatly influenced my decision to join the Bixal team.

Could you discuss the projects you work on and the impact they have on our range of clients in the Caribbean?

At Bixal, I am responsible for guiding and managing the performance monitoring portfolio. This involves the careful assessment and improvement of activity-level MEL plans to guarantee the utmost quality and usefulness of USAID's performance monitoring data. In addition, I actively support ongoing updates to our mission's Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) and collaborate with implementing partners to coordinate third-party monitoring activities. Furthermore, I assist mission staff in conducting data quality assessments and site visits to evaluate activity performance. These activities significantly impact the Caribbean region, as they enhance the quality of data, promote evidence-based decision-making, and ultimately improve the effectiveness of our programs.

What do you enjoy most about your work at Bixal, and are there any highlights you’re particularly proud of?

The most fulfilling aspect of my work at Bixal is the ability to contribute to meaningful change through data-driven insights and capacity building. Helping clients achieve their goals by ensuring high-quality data is particularly rewarding. I am proud of my role in delivering timely and robust MEL services, which facilitates informed decision-making and strategic planning for our client. Collaborating with some of the brightest minds in the field to make a real difference is immensely rewarding.

How has the MEL field changed since you first began your career and where do you see it going beyond 2024? 

In recent years, my work in MEL has evolved to include a greater emphasis on real-time data analysis, inclusive data collection methods, and addressing intersecting issues like gender equality and environmental sustainability. I can see the MEL field progressing towards prioritizing data-informed decision-making. Data on health outcomes, service delivery, and patient feedback, for instance, might be evaluated to determine which interventions are most beneficial in a health program that aims to reduce the incidence of HIV. Health care providers can enhance program outcomes, prioritize resource allocation more effectively and guarantee that treatments are adaptable to real-world problems by emphasizing data-informed decision-making.

Another area we can see improvement in is adaptive management. Project teams can stay relevant and productive by modifying their methods in response to new knowledge through adaptive management. Organizations can manage uncertainty and keep improving their treatments because of this flexibility.

Finally, I believe the MEL field will showcase stronger stakeholder involvement, which guarantees more inclusive, culturally appropriate, and likely-to-be-sustainable initiatives. For example, the inclusion of women's groups in planning and assessment stages of a development project centered on gender equality might yield important insights into the social and cultural barriers that need to be addressed.

I have confidence that Bixal stands ready to support this trajectory through its innovative strategies and steadfast dedication to building capacity and fostering technical excellence in our shared journey towards equity and positive global impact.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work?

In my free time, I enjoy reading, spending time with family and friends, and gardening. I am also passionate about climate change, disaster risk reduction, and maternal and child health. I currently serve as the creator and administrator of a breastfeeding support group for mothers and developed a breastfeeding passport used at a major maternity hospital in Trinidad. These interests not only provide a balance to my professional life but also inspire and inform my work in MEL.

About Tessa

Tessa holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and criminology and a master's degree in development statistics from the University of the West Indies. She earned an Oxford Graduate College diploma in project management and is pursuing a diploma in social innovation. Tessa is an integral part of the Bixal family, and we are so grateful for her commitment to our shared mission.