Why You Need to Consider Most Significant Change for Your Evaluation

Have you ever found yourself struggling with monitoring and evaluation (M&E) because your project didn’t have a clear baseline? Or maybe the traditional methods you're used to—aren’t quite capturing the deeper, more human impact of your work? If this sounds familiar, you might want to explore a technique that’s a bit different but incredibly powerful: the Most Significant Change (MSC) technique.

So, What is MSC Exactly?

The MSC technique involves collecting stories of change from participants or stakeholders in your project. You ask them a simple but profound question: What has been the most significant change in your life or community since this project started?

Once these stories are gathered, they are shared with a panel of decision-makers or stakeholders, who then discuss and select the most significant stories based on agreed criteria. This process of story selection adds depth to the evaluation, as it reveals not just what changed but why it mattered.

How is MSC Useful Compared to Traditional M&E Methods?

MSC shines where traditional methods sometimes fall short. Imagine trying to evaluate the impact of a project in a context where there was no baseline data to start with—like trying to measure how far you’ve driven without knowing where you started. That’s where MSC steps in. Instead of needing that “starting point” data, MSC focuses on what has changed from the perspective of those directly affected.

Here are a few practical ways MSC can solve common M&E challenges:

1. No Baseline Data? No Problem!

Traditional M&E often relies on having baseline data to measure progress. But what if you didn’t collect baseline information at the start? Or maybe the baseline you have isn’t very reliable? MSC can still thrive in these situations because it’s focused on the perceived change, as told by those who’ve experienced it. Their stories give insight into the project’s impact, even when hard data isn’t available.

For example, let’s say you’re working on a project to improve youth employment in rural areas. You may not have precise numbers on youth unemployment before you started, but through MSC, you can capture stories from young people who’ve gained employment or new skills. Their narratives provide rich insights into the change, without the need for baseline figures.

2. Capturing Complexity

Not all projects can be easily measured with indicators or metrics. Think about social change, capacity building, or empowerment projects. These often involve complex, non-linear processes. MSC is perfect for this because it allows you to explore change in a nuanced way. It acknowledges that people experience change differently, and this diversity of experience is part of what makes MSC so valuable.

To give an example, in a women’s empowerment initiative, one woman’s most significant change might be gaining the confidence to speak out in community meetings. For another, it might be securing a leadership role. These stories illustrate how impact can manifest in diverse ways that would be hard to capture through standard indicators.

3. Fostering Participation

Unlike many top-down M&E approaches, MSC is participatory by design. It invites stakeholders—especially rightsholders—to share their voices and perspectives. This not only enriches the data you’re collecting but also empowers participants by valuing their experiences.

Involve your participants early in the process. You could even hold workshops where people can reflect on their experiences and discuss the stories of change with each other. This creates a shared sense of ownership over the project’s outcomes.

Practical Tips for Using MSC

Now that we’ve explored the why of MSC, let’s look at some practical tips for making it work:

1. Start Simple with Storytelling When introducing MSC to your project, keep the question simple: What’s the most significant change you’ve seen? You might find that people need time to think about this, so give them space to reflect.
2. Use MSC as a Learning Tool Think of MSC as not just a reporting tool but a learning process. It helps you and your stakeholders reflect on what’s working, what’s not, and why. These insights can be invaluable for adapting and improving your project.

MSC is Like Mining for Gems

I like to think of MSC as a mining process. You’re sifting through experiences—sometimes rough, sometimes shiny—and extracting the gems that reflect the most important changes your project has sparked. These gems might surprise you, challenge you, and deepen your understanding of the work you’re doing.

If you’re looking for a way to evaluate change that feels more human, more nuanced, and doesn’t require the perfect set of data to get started, the Most Significant Change technique could be exactly what you need.

Join the webinar on MSC for real world examples of how to use and apply MSC. register here: https://www.annmurraybrown.com/single-post/workshop-on-most-significant-change