Using Mobile-Based Surveys to Measure the Impact of Youth and Women Projects in Africa

Across Africa, youth and women have been touted to be the heart of transformational development. Programs and projects aimed at empowering these groups—whether through entrepreneurship, education, or community development— continue to be critical in addressing systemic inequalities and fostering economic growth.

However, ensuring the effectiveness of these initiatives requires robust impact assessment mechanisms. Traditional methods of assessing program outcomes, such as paper-based assessments, often struggle with high costs, logistical challenges, and delays in data collection. On the flip side, mobile-based surveys offer a powerful, scalable, and cost-effective alternative, enabling organizations to gather real-time data, reach diverse populations, and make evidence-based decisions.

Through this article, we call in GeoPoll’s expertise and look at how mobile-based surveys can revolutionize impact assessment for youth and women projects across Africa.

Why Measure Impact?

Simply put, impact assessment is essential for understanding whether a program achieves its intended objectives. For youth and women-focused projects, measuring impact can help:

1. Demonstrate Effectiveness: Show stakeholders, including funders and partners, that investments yield tangible results.
2. Inform Decision-Making: Use data to refine strategies, allocate resources effectively, and scale successful initiatives.
3. Accountability: Ensure programs remain transparent and aligned with the needs of their beneficiaries.
4. Build Sustainability: Identify long-term outcomes and adapt programs to maintain their relevance over time.

Accurate, timely data is the foundation of effective impact assessment, and mobile-based surveys offer an ideal solution for collecting it.

The Advantages of Mobile-Based Surveys for Impact Assessment

Mobile-based surveys bring numerous benefits to organizations seeking to evaluate the impact of youth and women programs:

1. Reach Remote Communities: Mobile surveys can connect with respondents in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas, including those without access to traditional data collection methods. This inclusivity ensures the voices of marginalized youth and women are captured.
2. Real-Time Data Collection: Programs can gather immediate feedback from participants, enabling organizations to track progress dynamically and make mid-course adjustments if needed.
3. Cost-Effectiveness: Mobile surveys eliminate logistical costs such as field travel, printed materials, and manual data entry, making them an affordable option for NGOs, INGOs, and development agencies.
4. High Response Rates: With mobile devices being ubiquitous across Africa, SMS, mobile web, and CATI surveys offer respondents a convenient way to participate, often leading to higher response rates.
5. Scalability: Whether assessing a small pilot project or a large-scale initiative, mobile surveys can easily scale to accommodate the required sample size and geographical coverage.

How Mobile-Based Surveys Enhance Impact Assessment for Youth and Women Programs 

1. Baseline and Endline Surveys

Mobile surveys are instrumental in establishing baselines before a project begins and conducting endline assessments to measure changes. For example:

• Youth Employment Programs: Use baseline surveys to gather data on participants’ skills, employment status, and income levels. After the program, conduct an endline survey to track improvements in these metrics.
• Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiatives: Measure participants’ business performance, access to finance, and market reach before and after the intervention.

2. Real-Time Monitoring and Feedback

Mobile surveys enable continuous data collection throughout a program’s lifecycle. This ongoing feedback helps organizations:

• Identify areas for improvement while the program is still running.
• Understand beneficiaries’ satisfaction and challenges in real time.
• Adjust interventions to meet participants’ needs better.

For instance, a training program for women entrepreneurs can use mobile surveys to gauge participants’ understanding of concepts after each session and ensure that the curriculum meets their needs.

3. Post-Program Evaluation

Evaluating long-term impact is vital to determine whether a program’s benefits are sustained over time. Mobile surveys allow organizations to follow up with participants months or even years after a project ends. Examples include:

• Tracking youth who completed vocational training to assess their employment retention or business growth.
• Monitoring women entrepreneurs to understand how their businesses evolve and whether they continue to benefit from program interventions. 

4. Gender-Sensitive Data Collection

Mobile surveys can be designed to address gender-specific issues, ensuring women’s perspectives are accurately captured. Features like anonymous responses can encourage participants to share honest feedback, particularly when addressing sensitive topics such as gender discrimination or access to financial services.

Case Example: Driving Impact for Youth Empowerment through Mobile Surveys

A global foundation committed to creating sustainable opportunities for youth in Africa funded an initiative aimed at improving employment outcomes for young people in Kenya. The program focused on providing vocational training and entrepreneurship support to equip youth with the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving job market.

To ensure the initiative’s success and align with its values of transparency, evidence-based decision-making, and measurable impact, the foundation partnered with GeoPoll to conduct a comprehensive impact assessment using mobile-based surveys.

How GeoPoll Supported the Initiative

1. Baseline Data Collection:

• • At the program’s outset, GeoPoll conducted a baseline survey via SMS to gather data on participants’ demographics, employment status, skill levels, and career aspirations. This provided a clear starting point for measuring the program’s impact.
  • The baseline data also highlighted key challenges, such as gaps in digital literacy and access to job opportunities, helping refine the program’s focus.

2. Real-Time Monitoring:

• • • Throughout the initiative, GeoPoll deployed periodic mobile surveys to track participants’ progress. For example:
      • During training sessions, youth participants were surveyed on their understanding of course materials and satisfaction with the trainers.
      • Participants involved in entrepreneurship support shared updates on their business development, including challenges they faced and additional resources they needed.

The real-time feedback enabled the implementing organization to adjust the training content, improve delivery methods, and address participant concerns promptly.

3. Endline and Impact Evaluation:

• • At the conclusion of the program, GeoPoll conducted an endline survey to measure outcomes such as:
    • Increases in employment rates among participants.
    • Growth in incomes for those who started businesses.
    • Changes in participants’ perceptions of their career prospects and overall confidence.
  • The results were compared with the baseline data, providing a clear picture of the program’s impact and identifying areas for future improvement.

4. Post-Program Follow-Up:

• • Six months after the program ended, GeoPoll carried out a follow-up survey to assess the sustainability of the outcomes. Key insights included:
    • Participants’ continued employment or business performance.
    • Challenges faced in scaling their businesses or retaining jobs.
    • Additional support participants felt they needed to succeed long-term.
  • This follow-up data helped the foundation plan for future iterations of the program and provided evidence of the initiative’s sustained impact.

Outcomes

Using GeoPoll’s mobile survey capabilities, the foundation achieved transparency through real-time reporting, gained evidence-based insights that guided program improvements, and demonstrated impact with measurable outcomes like increased employment rates and income growth. Mobile surveys efficiently collected data from urban and rural areas in Kenya, avoiding logistical challenges and reinforcing the need for continued investment in youth initiatives. This case highlights the vital role mobile surveys play in evaluating youth programs and fostering meaningful change for Africa’s youth.

Best Practices for Conducting Mobile-Based Impact Assessments

To maximize the effectiveness of mobile-based surveys, organizations should follow these best practices:

1. Design Clear and Concise Surveys: Keep questions simple and relevant to ensure high completion rates.
2. Choose the Right Mode: Use SMS for broad reach, mobile web for in-depth responses, or apps for multimedia surveys.
3. Segment Audiences: Tailor questions to specific groups, such as youth, women, or rural populations, to capture relevant insights.
4. Ensure Data Privacy: Protect respondents’ data by adhering to ethical standards and local regulations.
5. Analyze and Share Results: Use the data to generate actionable insights, create visual reports, and share findings with stakeholders.

GeoPoll: Your Partner in Impact Assessment

GeoPoll has been at the forefront of mobile-based research across Africa, helping NGOs, INGOs, and development agencies assess the impact of their programs. With expertise in mobile-based surveys, GeoPoll ensures that organizations can gather reliable, actionable data from even the most remote regions.

Whether you’re measuring the outcomes of a youth employment initiative or evaluating the long-term effects of a women’s empowerment project, GeoPoll provides the tools and expertise to make your impact assessment efficient and effective.

Ready to measure the impact of your youth and women programs? Contact GeoPoll today to learn how mobile surveys can transform your evaluation process and amplify your impact.