From Learner to Strategic Evaluator: Sneamphay’s M&E Transformation Story
Author: Phakhinda Khanthavilay
Founder and lead trainer of Purple Tulip Development
When Ms. Sneamphay Praxayyamongkhoun first joined Purple Tulip Development’s Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Foundation Course in 2022, she brought with her a genuine curiosity and a strong desire to learn. Whether attending in person or online, she consistently showed up with enthusiasm—active in discussions, engaged in group work, and bringing positive energy to every session. Learning, for her, was not just about gaining knowledge; it was about growing confidence and capability.
Sneamphay Praxayyamongkhoun was practicing Kobo Toolbox in the data collection class.
Inspired by her first learning experience, Sneamphay chose to continue her development journey. She rejoined Purple Tulip Development in 2023 and again in 2024, strengthening her skills through the Data Collection training and deepening her understanding of practical M&E application.
With each course, she began turning theory into practice.
Not long after completing the program, Sneamphay was given the opportunity to lead a stocktake survey across eight provinces in Laos. Drawing directly from what she had learned, she independently designed questionnaires and digital data collection forms using KoBo Toolbox, managed field data collection, cleaned and organized large datasets, and analyzed the results with clarity and confidence.
When it came time to write the project report, Sneamphay noticed a powerful shift.
“While writing the report, I thought of Mina,” she shared, referring to Purple Tulip Development’s founder and lead trainer.
“The M&E knowledge is so beneficial and essential for project management.”
What once felt complex and overwhelming became structured and manageable. She completed the closing project report in a short period of time and received only minor feedback from her supervisor—an achievement that spoke volumes about her growing competence.
Her strengthened data collection skills and application of the M&E system allowed her to produce high-quality, credible data—data she could confidently stand behind. Remarkably, a task that was originally expected to be completed by an external expert became something she could lead herself.
Sneamphay Praxayyamongkhoun demonstrated the data collection process after creating her own questionnaire.
“The closing project report was supposed to be an expert’s assignment,” she reflected.
“However, I made it.”
The impact did not stop there.
Sneamphay received multiple compliments from project stakeholders, particularly for her ability to clearly explain the project’s logical framework. She demonstrated a strong understanding of outputs and results, and she could break down project activities in a way that helped others see the full picture—clearly, logically, and confidently.
Today, Sneamphay has stepped into a new role as a Strategic Plan Evaluator in the agriculture sector. Her responsibilities now include gap analysis and needs assessment—work that requires strong data collection, analysis, and evaluation skills. Recognizing the importance of continuous learning, she has expressed a strong motivation to further strengthen her capacity by joining Purple Tulip Development’s Data Analysis Mastery Course and is willing to continue her learning journey with us again in 2026.
Phakhinda (Mina), our lead trainer, explained the steps of creating interview forms in Kobo Toolbox.
🌱 Your Transformation Starts Here
Sneamphay’s journey—from her first course in 2022, through continued learning in 2023 and 2024, and her commitment to grow again in 2026—is a powerful reminder that M&E is not just a technical skill; it is a career-transforming capability.
With the right guidance, practical tools, and a supportive learning environment, professionals can move from learners to confident practitioners—and into strategic leadership roles.
If you are a project officer, M&E staff, coordinator, or manager who wants to:
Design better data collection tools
Analyze data with confidence
Write clear, evidence-based reports
Strengthen your role in project planning and evaluation
✨ Join Purple Tulip Development’s M&E learning journey.
Start with our M&E Foundation, deepen your skills in Data Collection, or advance through Data Analysis Mastery.
📩 Reach out to us today to explore upcoming courses and take the next step in your professional growth—just like Sneamphay.
🌷 Purple Tulip Development – Growing skills. Creating impact..