Why The Most Significant Change (MSC) Technique is Useful For Gender and Social Inclusion Efforts

Imagine trying to capture the essence of a community's journey toward equality and inclusion through charts and numbers alone. The Most Significant Change (MSC) technique flips the script by bringing real stories to the forefront, offering a way to track impact that’s as rich and diverse as the people involved.

By focusing on firsthand accounts, MSC highlights not just what’s changed, but why it matters to those most affected. For gender and social inclusion efforts, where understanding nuanced shifts in power, confidence, and acceptance is essential, MSC is uniquely suited to reveal new insights.

What is the Most Significant Change (MSC) Technique?

MSC is a participatory, story-based method for evaluating and learning from change. In essence, it involves gathering stories from programme participants or community members about the most significant changes they’ve experienced due to an intervention, project, or initiative.

These stories are then collectively reviewed by various stakeholders, who select the stories they find most meaningful or impactful. Through this process, MSC helps organisations learn what’s working well, uncover unexpected impacts, and make decisions grounded in real-world experiences.

Now, let’s explore why MSC is such a fantastic fit for gender and social inclusion efforts.

1. MSC Puts People at the Heart of the Story

In gender and social inclusion efforts, who better to highlight real, lasting change than those experiencing it firsthand? The MSC technique centres individuals’ voices, giving those most affected by programmes the power to express, in their own words, what matters most to them. Traditional evaluation methods can sometimes feel clinical or detached, focusing on quantitative indicators that might miss the nuances of personal growth or social shifts.

Take, for example, a gender equality programme in a rural community where women are encouraged to start small businesses. An MSC story from one woman might highlight how earning her own income gave her a new sense of autonomy, shifting not only her self-perception but her role in her family and community. This personal account paints a vivid picture, showing the interconnected layers of change that a statistic alone couldn’t capture.

2. MSC is Participatory and Inclusive by Design

Imagine MSC as a roundtable discussion where everyone has a voice. This technique actively invites diverse participants—women, men, youth, elders, and marginalised groups—to share their perspectives. In gender and social inclusion initiatives, such inclusivity is crucial because it ensures that the stories of those traditionally sidelined are heard and valued.

Consider a social project in an urban area aiming to support LGBTQ+ youth. By using MSC, this project might gather a story from a young person who experienced newfound confidence through support group participation. Another story might come from a parent who, after attending workshops, developed a stronger, more accepting relationship with their child. By collecting and reflecting on these stories, the programme can track not only individual changes but also shifts in community attitudes and acceptance.

3. MSC Reveals Unexpected Insights and Ripple Effects

MSC is like turning over stones to discover hidden gems. In development programmes, where ripple effects often extend beyond the immediate participants, MSC helps uncover these unexpected layers of change. For example, a community may start with a project aimed at improving girls’ education, but MSC stories might reveal that the project has also empowered boys to see their female classmates in a new light, creating a shift in gender norms among future generations.

Or, in a women’s health initiative, MSC might highlight a story where one woman, after attending health workshops, went on to become a community health advocate, educating others and transforming local health practices. Such stories not only showcase the direct impact of a project but also illuminate broader social transformations that can inspire program adjustments and expansion.

4. MSC Creates a Safe Space for Vulnerable Voices

With MSC, there’s no rush, no standard survey box to tick. Instead, MSC invites people to share openly, in a supportive environment, about changes that are meaningful to them. This approach is especially valuable in sensitive areas like gender and social inclusion, where participants may be dealing with trauma, discrimination, or deeply personal shifts.

In a gender-based violence prevention project, for instance, MSC might allow survivors to reflect on how the program has helped them regain control of their lives and their voices. For a marginalised group that has historically been silenced, MSC can be a pathway to reclaiming agency, demonstrating how even the smallest shifts in perception or attitude can represent profound steps forward.

5. MSC Builds Empathy and Understanding Across Stakeholders

MSC doesn’t just stop with gathering stories. By bringing together stakeholders to discuss and select the most significant stories, MSC creates a collaborative space where different perspectives are respected and valued. For gender and social inclusion programs, this collective sense-making can foster empathy, understanding, and commitment among all stakeholders, from donors and program managers to community leaders and participants.

Consider a case where a project brings together government officials, NGO staff, and local residents to review stories. One powerful story might detail how access to vocational training helped a woman with a disability secure employment and gain social acceptance. The act of discussing and valuing this story together helps the group see beyond the metrics, recognising the human impact of their work.

MSC is like a mirror held up to the community, reflecting back the most meaningful changes in the lives of its members. By focusing on stories that matter, MSC transcends traditional evaluation approaches, capturing the depth and breadth of transformation that gender and social inclusion efforts aim to achieve. It’s an approach that honors individual voices, fosters empathy, and inspires a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive world.

Curious to learn more about real life applications of MSC?Then join the upcoming webinar where you will hear real world examples from Nur Rokhmah Hidayati on the use of the method. We have only 10 spots available. Register NOW. Don't miss out.https://lnkd.in/e8Fm3rZVhashtag#MostSignificantChange