On 29 January 2026, Forus officially launched its new Impact & Learning Practice Circles, marking the beginning of a member-driven space designed to deepen peer learning, strengthen collective reflection and exchange practical tools on impact, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEAL) across civil society networks.

Bringing together 25 participants from 15 member organisations across the world, the first session set the tone for what is intended to become a continuous, evolving process throughout the year.

“This is not just about measurement,” said Arturo Cortés Barbabosa, Forus’ MEAL, Organisational Effectiveness & Special Projects Coordinator, as he opened the session.

“Impact is contextual, political and relational. It is about accountability, but it is also about strengthening networks, learning collectively and improving our collective action.”

Impact as a strategic driver

Arturo presented Forus’ impact measurement system, developed since 2021. He explained how Forus measures impact across different levels — from initiatives and member engagement to broader global influence — using surveys, qualitative feedback and learning-oriented tools. 

The approach is closely linked to Forus’ 2026–2030 strategy, to be validated at the Forus General Assembly in Cambodia. Network health, member engagement and collective influence are positioned as core dimensions of impact.

To support members directly, Forus shared its 2025 Impact Survey in a fully editable, multilingual format, encouraging adaptation across contexts.

“The Practice Circles are not a one-off webinar,” Arturo added. “They are an evolving space where members co-define the agenda and shape the learning process.” 

Measuring network performance in practice

Concrete examples from across the network illustrated how impact measurement translates into organisational practice. 

From Nigeria, Oyebisi Oluseyi, Executive Director of the Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGO), explained how his network combines quantitative and qualitative indicators to track performance.

“We look at year-on-year membership growth, participation rates, advocacy outcomes and digital engagement metrics such as social media reach,” he shared. “But equally important is collecting regular member feedback to adapt our services and strengthen trust.”

Financial sustainability indicators are also monitored to support long-term planning — a reminder that impact measurement must align with organisational resilience. 

Institutionalising partnership and accountability

Jaeeun Shin, Director of the Korea NGO Council for Overseas Development Cooperations (KCOC) in South Korea, presented a five-year process of building a structured government–civil society partnership. Through jointly defined indicators and regular evaluations, both sectors established a shared performance management framework.

“The key has been institutionalised dialogue,” Jaeeun explained. “When indicators are defined together, evaluation becomes a tool for coordination and mutual accountability, rather than control.” 

Her intervention highlighted how impact measurement can strengthen collaboration rather than merely serve reporting obligations.

Community ownership and private sector engagement

From Mexico, David Almeida Zavala of FECHAC / UnidOSC introduced the MIDAS community development model, which mobilises private sector contributions to support long-term, community-led transformation in the state of Chihuahua.

Over four years, the initiative has reached more than 79,000 participants and supported the creation of 60 active community hubs. 

“Impact is not just about outputs,” David noted. “It is about sustainability. Community participation and local leadership are what make initiatives endure.” 

The model measures progress using internationally recognised indicators aligned with UN development dimensions such as education, living conditions and well-being — and has since received regional recognition. 

Transparency at sector level

Piedad Martín Sierra from La Coordinadora ONGD in Spain presented the NGO Sector Report, a digital transparency platform compiling data from organisations working in over 100 countries.

Using a data journalism approach with interactive maps and visualisations, the platform allows organisations to analyse and communicate their impact more effectively. 

“Making data public strengthens credibility,” Piedad emphasised. “Transparency is not only about accountability — it is about trust and collective visibility.” 

Sustaining impact under pressure

Representatives from Sinergia in Venezuela, Luisa Rodríguez (President) and Naiguel Baspe (Project Coordinator), brought attention to the realities of operating in shrinking civic spaces.

They described advocacy efforts to influence restrictive legislation regulating NGOs and international cooperation, highlighting partial successes achieved through strategic dialogue and partnerships, including engagement with UN actors. 

“Even in highly constrained environments, coordinated network approaches can safeguard impact,” they explained, underscoring the importance of institutional resilience, collective advocacy, and psychosocial support for civil society actors facing sustained pressure. 

Rethinking evaluation as learning

Closing the panel, Lilian Pioch from Réseau F3E offered a reflective perspective on evaluation practices.

“Social change is complex,” she said. “If we rely only on quantitative indicators, we miss essential dimensions of transformation.” 

She encouraged learning-oriented, participatory evaluation processes that foster dialogue, critical reflection and collective sense-making. 

“Evaluation is not just measurement,” Lilian added. “It is a space for learning, adaptation and long-term impact.” 

The Impact & Learning Practice Circles will continue after the Forus General Assembly (23–27 March), with members invited to help shape future topics and formats. 

As Arturo concluded during the launch: 

“Impact is not a static result — it is a collective process. The more we learn from each other, the stronger our networks become.” 

The Practice Circles aim to make that collective learning a sustained reality across the Forus network.