Rethinking Measurement: The “Measuring What Matters” Workshop in Bali
From July 8-12, 2024, 19 non-profit organizations from Africa, Europe, South and Central America, and Asia gathered in Bali for the “Measuring What Matters” workshop. Supported by the Global Fund for Community Foundations (GFCF), in partnership with Urgent Action Fund – Asia Pacific and Indonesia untuk Kemanusiaan (IKa), the workshop challenged participants with a bold question:
“What will it take to build new systems that measure what truly matters?” For too long, measurement in philanthropy and development has been dictated by funders—often valuing numbers over impact, reports over relationships, and compliance over community agency. This workshop was a space to reimagine measurement: to make it serve communities rather than control them.
Key Reflections and Challenges
1. The Power Struggle in Measurement
Funders often impose rigid evaluation frameworks that fail to capture the complexity of social change. Participants discussed how power dynamics shape what gets measured, often prioritizing donor needs over local realities.
2. The Legitimacy Dilemma
Many organizations struggle with legitimacy in the eyes of funders while also trying to remain accountable to the communities they serve. The workshop explored ways to build trust-based legitimacy, rather than just meeting external expectations.
3. Measuring the Intangible
How do you measure trust, dignity, solidarity, and well-being? Traditional metrics struggle with these “thick concepts,” yet they are central to meaningful change.
4. Beyond Data: The Role of Art and Storytelling
Measurement isn’t just about numbers. Participants explored how art, storytelling, and creative methods can capture knowledge and impact in ways that reports cannot.
Indonesia untuk Kemanusiaan (IKa) Introduces Pemaknaan
IKa introduced Pemaknaan, a methodology that centers reflection and learning over rigid evaluation. Unlike conventional assessments, Pemaknaan embraces subjectivity, values community narratives, and acknowledges transformation as a journey, not just an outcome. The approach resonated deeply, sparking discussions on how organizations worldwide could adapt similar reflective methodologies.
What Comes Next?
As the workshop concluded, participants committed to concrete next steps:
– Strengthening global solidarity by staying connected as a learning community.
– Pushing back against top-down metrics and advocating for community-led measurement.
– Experimenting with alternative tools, from participatory data collection to creative expression.
– Engaging funders in co-creating new evaluation approaches.
The movement for “Measuring What Matters” is just beginning. Bali was not just a workshop—it was a declaration: Measurement must serve justice, not bureaucracy. It must shift power, not reinforce it. It must reflect reality, not distort it.