Open Discussion

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Open Discussion
These are great insights into

These are great insights into the issues of documenting impact in our work.  Often, particularly in tracking progress in law and policy reform, the passage of the amended laws or policies is considered the key indicator for measuring success. This is normal and is evident a bit here too. At Lawyers Alert, LA, a Nigerian based Human Rights Body where I work, tracking of progress focuses on attitudes, perceptions and practices. Successes in law and policy reform are embedded in these processes.
At LA, we hold series of Public Policy Dialogue where proposed laws are discussed with the public on radio and social media. Responses are then tracked and analyzed to feel the pulse/attitude and perception on the issue. We also hold FGDs which are closer knit and elaborate, FGDs gives insights into thought processes, emotions, values and much more. The public dialogue and the FGDs are  vital resource for developing baselines.
More important, advocacy for law reform implemented over less than a 24-month period toward changing attitudes and perceptions is difficult to measure.
You can muscle your way to passage of laws and policies but if behavioral and attitudinal changes do not occur, not much progress would have been made. This is why it is important to track processes these changes which is where real impact lies.  Laws simply make these changes statutory and enforceable.  

These are great insights into

These are great insights into the issues of documenting impact in our work.  Often, particularly in tracking progress in law and policy reform, the passage of the amended laws or policies is considered the key indicator for measuring success. This is normal and is evident a bit here too. At Lawyers Alert, LA, a Nigerian based Human Rights Body where I work, tracking of progress focuses on attitudes, perceptions and practices. Successes in law and policy reform are embedded in these processes.
At LA, we hold series of Public Policy Dialogue where proposed laws are discussed with the public on radio and social media. Responses are then tracked and analyzed to feel the pulse/attitude and perception on the issue. We also hold FGDs which are closer knit and elaborate, FGDs gives insights into thought processes, emotions, values and much more. The public dialogue and the FGDs are  vital resource for developing baselines.
More important, advocacy for law reform implemented over less than a 24-month period toward changing attitudes and perceptions is difficult to measure.
You can muscle your way to passage of laws and policies but if behavioral and attitudinal changes do not occur, not much progress would have been made. This is why it is important to track processes these changes which is where real impact lies.  Laws simply make these changes statutory and enforceable.