Impact Beyond Numbers

At One Day’s Wages, impact is one of our core values—and we believe it goes beyond the number of wells drilled, classrooms built, or farmers trained. It’s about long-term, sustainable changes that shape communities for generations.

As a movement committed to locally led development, we approach impact a bit differently. Today we’re sharing with you how we define meaningful impact, why it’s strategically self-determined, and how it’s an ongoing process of learning and refinement.

First, we believe impact means long-term change. 

It’s easy to count numbers. In the development world, we call these “outputs.” Our partners share with us the number of latrines built at schools, or the number of health workers who participated in training, or the number of students who received school supplies. And while we do keep track of these numbers, impact moves beyond counting outputs. After all, what’s the use of a new school latrine if students don’t actually use it?

Impact refers to the longer-term changes in people’s knowledge, skills, behaviors, and circumstances as a result of our partners’ initiatives. These are the changes that ultimately contribute to resilience and flourishing. 

Second, we believe impact should be self-determined.

We don’t impose our definitions of success or tell our partners how to measure change. We’re not the experts! Instead, we come alongside partner organizations that have an intimate understanding of their communities’ needs and dreams.

Imagine a brand new latrine constructed at a rural school. For one organization, the hoped-for impact is improved school enrollment in a community where few families have their own toilets. Another organization might choose to measure decreased cases of infectious disease, while still another might focus on reducing gender-based violence due to lack of safe facilities. All three of these impacts represent the diverse and meaningful changes that might come about by installing a school latrine. Our partners decide what is most meaningful to their communities.

Finally, we believe impact is an opportunity to listen and learn.

The impacts of a project might be positive or negative. They might be intended or unintended. Regardless, every poverty alleviation initiative is an opportunity to listen, learn, refine, and try again.

Let’s return to our school latrine. Perhaps the organization implementing the project hoped to see a decrease in hygiene-related diseases among students. However, when they interview students and study school records, they’re surprised to learn that girls who previously missed up to five days of school a month while menstruating are now attending class regularly! With that learning, the organization refines their strategy and begins to include workshops on menstrual health and hygiene in future school latrine projects.

In fact, that’s what happened when our ODW partner, SPRODETA, measured the impact of their recent project in Malawi. By installing latrines at schools, girls’ attendance rates increased by up to 73%! Often, a surprise impact is just as meaningful as one that is planned. 

When you partner with One Day’s Wages, you’re not just funding projects. You’re investing in transformation that goes beyond numbers. True impact is measured in resilience, dignity, and the flourishing of individuals and communities for generations to come.

Pictured in the header: SPRODETA leads a workshop for mothers on how to support girls in managing menstruation while at school.

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Daphne Hollinger Fowler is One Day’s Wages’ Global Impact Director.