Measuring Systems Impact: What Counts in a Complex World?

​Event Description

As the social sector shifts from isolated interventions to collective action and systems change, the way we measure impact is struggling to keep up. Traditional approaches are often too slow, too rigid, or too focused on attribution to capture what is actually happening in complex, fast-changing environments.

This discussion explores what it takes to measure impact when outcomes are nonlinear, shared, and constantly evolving. How do we track progress when the baseline keeps shifting, especially in fragile or chaotic contexts? What does it mean to measure systems impact in real time, and how can we balance rigor with practicality?

We will also examine the tensions between what different stakeholders value, from donor reporting requirements to community-defined outcomes, and what ethical, useful measurement looks like in practice. Bringing together perspectives from across sectors, including financial inclusion, conservation, and humanitarian work, this session invites participants to rethink how we define and measure impact in a more complex world.

​Speakers

• ​Hannah Sharpe is Impact and ESG Associate at Cross-Border Impact Ventures, focusing on health technologies for women and children.

• ​Malin Rosenkvist is Director of Fundraising and Communications at MicroLoan Foundation, advancing financial inclusion for women in sub-Saharan Africa.

• ​Reeve Isaacs Smith is Fundraising and Partnerships Lead at MicroLoan Foundation.

• ​David Bonbright is a social entrepreneur and member of Ashoka’s Global Leadership Group, known for developing Constituent Voice® to strengthen organisational effectiveness.

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Discussion Questions
What does “systems impact” actually look like, and how can it be measured in practice?
How do we track meaningful outcomes when contexts are unstable or constantly changing?
How can we balance the need for rigor with the realities of cost, complexity, and timeliness?
Whose definition of impact are we measuring, and how can we better align with what matters to communities?

​Location & access
Accessibility matters deeply to us, and we do our best to choose spaces that reflect that. That said, some of our Oxford venues are in historic buildings without lifts. This room is unfortunately not accessible for wheelchair users, those with mobility challenges, or anyone needing step-free access.