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Rethinking Impact: From Metrics to Meaning – Convening Report

July 2026
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Publisher : ISDM

24167

How do we move beyond measuring impact as a reporting requirement to using it as a tool for learning, decision-making, and long-term change? This report captures the key discussions, insights, and emerging ideas from Rethinking Impact: From Metrics to Meaning, a convening that brought together funders, practitioners, researchers, evaluators, and development professionals to examine the future of impact measurement in India. Anchored around the launch of the Rural Development Impact Framework (RDIF) and the Development Management–Social Impact Measurement and Management (DM-SIMM) approach, the convening explored how the sector can better understand contribution, centre community perspectives, align funding with the realities of social change, and create measurement practices that support learning over compliance. The report synthesises the conversations, key takeaways, and actions that can help build a more thoughtful and effective approach to understanding impact.

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