NARRATIVE ASSESSMENT: BRINGING ADVOCACY STORIES TO LIFE

This Narrative Assessment Manual, produced by Wageningen University & Research and Hivos in 2021, introduces a fresh way to measure and understand advocacy work by transforming real-life experiences into powerful stories. 

Advocacy is not a straight line. It is often a messy, long-term journey filled with challenges that standard reports simply cannot capture. Narrative Assessment helps organizations and donors see the real people behind the work, including the struggles, the victories, and the true meaning of every achievement.

Remember that Narrative Assessment is a complement, but not a replacement. It is not designed to replace other tools like Most Significant Change or Outcome Harvesting. Instead, it adds depth, shedding light on the hidden dynamics and complex realities of advocacy work that often go unspoken.

So, what does Narrative Assessment look like, in brief?

An advocate sits down with a skilled facilitator who guides a storytelling session based on the advocate’s own experience. The facilitator asks thoughtful questions to shape a narrative with a clear message and credible supporting details. 

Each story should contain a blend of five key ingredients:

  1. A meaningful change or transformation
  2. A journey that unfolds over time
  3. Actions that were taken
  4. The people involved
  5. The real setting where it all happened

Why is this valuable?

  • Deeper understanding: Encourages advocates to reflect on what worked and why.
  • Stronger teams: Sharing stories builds trust, inspires colleagues, and strengthens collaboration.
  • Amplifying local voices: Gives a platform to local knowledge and experiences.
  • Authentic communication: Highlights the significance of results, no matter how big or small, in a relatable way.

Link to the document: https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/narrative-assessment-a-new-method-for-monitoring-evaluating-learn




Hnin Ei Lwin

#Monitoring #Evaluation #Reporting #Research #MEARL

#social #development #humanitarian #publichealth 

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