Since 2016, Integrated Risk Management Associates (IRMA) has supported the Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies’ Disaster Relief and Recovery (DRR) Team as part of its Evaluation and Learning (EL) Partnership. This long-term collaboration helps MACP and its grantee partners strengthen disaster risk reduction and response by using evidence, reflection and shared learning to guide strategy and practice. In 2025–2026, IRMA continues in this role with a renewed scope of work that aligns closely with MACP’s Ten‑Year Update (10YU) process.
IRMA’s work as EL Partner focuses on:
- Advancing portfolio learning and insight by analysing data reported through MACP’s DRR‑Informed (DRR‑I) portfolio and making patterns, gaps and equity issues visible for decision-makers.
- Strengthening strategic reflection by co-designing and facilitating regular Pause & Reflect sessions, where MACP teams review evidence, refine priorities and connect learning to future granting decisions.
- Fostering peer learning among grantees through regional and global convenings that surface local lessons, explore “sweet spot” geographies for impact, and build a shared understanding of effective DRR‑I practice.
Across 2025–2026, IRMA’s contribution is structured around a set of high‑leverage learning activities.
Key areas of work include:
- Deepening understanding of MACP’s disaster risk reduction investments through a global “Deep Dive” analysis and dissemination effort, including engagement with grantees and presentation at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.
- Conducting annual preparedness and response data analyses that combine quantitative portfolio results with qualitative insights from grantees, and feeding these findings into MACP’s internal learning spaces and external convenings.
- Designing and facilitating regional grantee convenings and preparing bilingual synthesis reports that grantees can use in their own planning.
- Accompanying MACP through its Ten‑Year Update, supporting the DRR team to answer strategic learning questions and connect emerging evidence to revised theories of change and indicators.
- Providing expert guidance on a forthcoming impact evaluation, ensuring it is well-scoped, methodologically sound and useful for MACP and partners.
By combining rigorous analysis, facilitation and long-term accompaniment, IRMA helps MACP and its partners turn data and experience into actionable insight, strengthening disaster risk reduction outcomes across the DRR‑I portfolio.
IRMA’s team for this assignment included Marilise Turnbull and Lezlie Moriniere.
