Measurement, Evaluation & Learning for Corporate Impact Programs: Theoretical Change and a Bit of Theatre
About the session
Corporate impact programmes are full of stories deserving to be told. Yet too often, the way we measure, evaluate, and learn from that work falls short.
This session takes an honest look at the current state of measurement, evaluation, and learning (MEL) in corporate impact. Why does it so often default to tick-boxing? What is lost when learning loops are missed, trust between partners erodes, and key decisions are made without meaningful evidence?
Drawing on the lived experience of participants, the session will explore the gap between what is measured and what actually matters, and question whether the tools and frameworks commonly used in corporate MEL are fit for purpose.
At the same time, this is not just a critique. It is a creative intervention.
Through a mix of discussion, collaborative mapping, and a playful co-creation exercise, participants will step into the role of playwrights, imagining and scripting what better MEL could look like in practice. The session blends honest diagnosis with creative provocation, opening up new ways of thinking about how learning, accountability, and storytelling can work together.
The aim is to reframe MEL as a practice that supports better decisions, stronger partnerships, and more meaningful impact.
Who this is for
This session is for anyone working with or within a business with an impact focus, including corporate sustainability and social impact teams, NGO and social enterprise partners, funders, and independent practitioners. Some familiarity with MEL is helpful.
What you will get out of it
A clearer view of the strengths and limitations of current corporate MEL practices
Insight into how evaluation can better support learning, trust, and decision-making
New ideas for making the case for more effective and meaningful MEL
A creative, collaborative experience that generates both insight and tangible outputs
Part honest diagnosis, part creative provocation, entirely collaborative.