From 2001 to 2005, IFAD’s regional programme Rural Uruguay made the experience of implementing and managing a Monitoring, Evaluation and Systematisation Unit (M&E Unit). As part of this process a number of lessons learned were developed, and project staff members responsible for M&E Units were supported by PREVAL in recognising that project managers and technical staff play a role as “partners.” The process followed a strongly participatory approach, allowing the project technical team to develop the system together, based on a more strategic, integrated approach, and develop stronger ownership as a result of regular opportunities for reflection. In this sense, improved management and impact of the programme was achieved by incorporating the group learning process as an input arising from the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation system.