How Tracking What Matters Drives Positive Change and Advocacy
Miranda van Reeuwijk
Senior Researcher, Rutgers International Department
Yemurai Nyoni
Monitoring and Evaluation Associate, YIELD Hub
In recent years, the significance of measurement in shaping advocacy agendas has become ever more apparent, especially within the sensitive and multifaceted domain of sexual well-being. For academics and youth leaders engaged in youth empowerment, understanding and harnessing measurement is far more than a technical task, it’s an important strategy for creating real, positive change. In this blog, we unpack the reasons why measurement matters, explore how it empowers youth leaders and communities, and highlight the essential role academics play in co-developing inclusive advocacy approaches.
“What we measure affects what we do; and if our measurements are flawed, decisions may be distorted.”
2009 Stiglitz Commission
“If you measure it,
it becomes real”
Miranda van Reeuwijk
Why Measurement Matters: Turning Ideas into Action
Often, issues surrounding sexual well-being are seen as abstract or challenging to quantify, which can make them less likely to receive the attention and resources they deserve. By assigning values, metrics, or indicators to aspects of sexual well-being, such as access to information, experiences of safety, or levels of agency, we give these intangible concepts a tangible presence in policy discussions and programmatic spaces.
Developing a dedicated measurement framework for Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (AYSRHR) serves a broader purpose than just tracking statistics. When advocates bring forward data that highlights needs or progress, it is much easier to influence change, secure funding, and carve out space for sexual and reproductive health and rights on institutional and governmental agendas. For example, regular measurements can reveal trends in young people’s access to essential health services or expose gaps in comprehensive sexuality education; information that is critical for targeted advocacy and intervention.
Youth Leaders: Amplifying Voices and Driving Change
Youth leaders are uniquely positioned to understand and represent the realities of their peers, particularly those facing marginalisation or underrepresentation. Measurement equips these leaders with evidence to share their communities’ needs and successes. Through tools like anonymous surveys, participatory workshops, or interactive digital platforms, young people can share their lived experiences safely and authentically.
“Putting indicators to measure progress means it will be included in workplans and budgets”
Miranda van Reeuwijk
The act of systematically gathering and analysing data enables youth leaders to identify emerging issues, monitor shifts in attitudes, and craft advocacy messages that resonate. For instance, a youth-driven survey might uncover that stigma or lack of privacy is a major barrier to seeking sexual health services; insights that can be leveraged for policy change or program adaptation.
Moreover, measurement allows youth leaders to track progress over time, celebrate notable achievements, and hold stakeholders accountable. It provides a platform for stories and statistics to intersect, making the case for resources or reforms that align with young people’s realities.
Academics: Building Inclusive and Responsive Frameworks
Academics bring methodological rigor, ethical oversight, and a broad perspective to the process of measurement. Their expertise ensures that tools and frameworks are not only scientifically sound but also inclusive, culturally sensitive, and adaptable to various contexts. However, the most impactful frameworks are not developed in isolation; they are co-created with youth.
“Together, you can co-create metrics that matter, not just to funders or policymakers, but to the young people whose lives are impacted by these efforts”
Miranda van Reeuwijk
The relationship between academic knowledge and youth lived experience is powerful. Collaborating with youth leaders helps academics avoid imposing externally defined measures. It helps them design tools that reflect community priorities, in terms of language, accessibility, or the types of questions asked.
A typical example of such collaboration is the use of participatory research methods, where young people are supported to help design surveys, conduct interviews, or analyse findings. This not only improves the validity and authenticity of the data collected but also builds skills and ownership amongst youth.
Conclusion:
Let Data and Young Voices Lead
Embracing measurement as a core part of advocacy enables youth leaders and academics to create real, sustained progress in the field of AYSRHR. By making the invisible visible, measurement transforms good intentions into actionable priorities, bridging the gap between evidence and action, and ensuring that youth voices are at the heart of every conversation. As you advance in this important work, let data guide your way, and let young people’s dreams, needs, and insights shape the future.
Connect with the Theory of Change on Youth Partnership in AYSRHR
The new Theory of Change on Youth Partnership in AYSRHR designed by Miranda and colleagues in the ToC Working Group, is envisioned to serve as a resource to help organisations clarify the design and evaluation of their youth partnership interventions, and to identify areas for further investment. It is an iterative tool, that is expected to shift and change over the years in line with emerging trends and evidence affecting the field.
The ToC has been released with a set of guidelines that include sample indicators for use in tracking changes in youth partnership at individual level, within the SRHR ecosystem, and in society. You can access the ToC and its related resources here:
If you or your organisation would like to sign on to endorse and amplify the ToC, please follow this link:
Meanwhile, look out for updates on the YIELD Hub platforms on new opportunities to strengthen the measurement of youth partnership in AYSRHR.
