Helvetas

T 004 Sucessfull Initatives

Indicator Definition

Indicator Name T 004 Number of initiatives that were successful in implementing new or improved frame conditions
Indicator Definition

This should be used by all projects with activities that establish or support initiatives that aim to improve or change frame conditions (counted in Frame Condition indicators under each working field) AND have achieved successful results. The indicator should be reported together with the marker on T 003 Degree of integration of advocacy into the project (negative, blind, sensitive, responsive, and transformative). Having a successful initiative will qualify as ‘transformative’ in or of the system, be it at regional, national, or sub-national levels. Additionally, the indicator T 005 Number of people benefiting from the successful implementation of new or improved frame conditions should be reported with this indicator.

Frame conditions: The broader environment or context within which initiatives operate, including legal frameworks (national & international commitments), policies, governance structures, social norms, and economic conditions.


Initiative: In the context of advocacy and policy dialogue, ‘initiative’ can be used as another word for ‘campaign’, i.e. a systematic, mid- to long-term engagement by a project, its partner organisation(s), or a network/alliance on a specific issue of concern, with the aim to make a specific systemic change happen. An initiative (or campaign) is usually a systematic, sequential combination of activities, efforts, and events contributing and leading towards a defined objective, such as a legislative or regulatory change, a targeted budget allocation, a re-allocation of public subsidies, and the like. An initiative can be owned or carried by a single organization/entity such as a project, CSO or business association. In most cases, however, it is a combined effort of several partners and allies who jointly plan and launch an initiative as a network, alliance, or multi-stakeholder initiative, striving for the same change. A Helvetas project can play different roles with regard to an initiative, and roles can also change over time as an initiative evolves. We can co-launch an initiative at its forefront, but we can also support and push it from behind the scenes, as a facilitator, door opener, or enabler (through funding, networking, strategic support and the like).

Successful: Initiatives are considered successful if they have achieved their intended outcomes in improving or changing frame conditions. This includes policy changes or enhanced governance structures (social equity), improved service delivery (social inclusion), or a decrease in conflict over resources (social cohesion).
Indicator Level Outcome

Disaggregation

Disaggregation

  • National, regional or local

  • Supported or established        
Measuring Unit

A number of initiatives established or supported through Helvetas activities successfully improved or changed frame conditions. Ongoing initiatives are counted in output indicators across various working fields (GCS 3.1.3, CTR 3.2.3, MIG 3.3.3, WSG 1.1.9, FAN 1.2.4, CDR 1.3.6, BED 2.1.4, VSD 2.2.4, PSD 2.3.3).

Examples of Actvities

Initiatives are not stand-alone, one-off activities or events, rather a process involving an interconnected series of actions, and different stakeholders, leading to a transformative outcome in norms, policy, strategy &/or law at regional, national &/or subnational even local level. Some examples can include:

  1. In Kyrgyzstan, a HELVETAS project helps to establish and supports a local group of farmers who jointly lobby the parliament to change the law on local self-government. The HELVETAS project mainly facilitates, helps to build skills, and funds certain activities, while itself remaining in the background. This whole engagement – a multi-year effort combining background research, field excursions, media work, roundtables, parliamentary lobbying etc – can be seen as one single initiative.

  2. In Serbia, a HELVETAS project supports several CSOs in their own advocacy efforts, through capacity strengthening and targeted funding for their – sometimes individual, sometimes joint – campaigns. Every single one of these campaigns can be considered an initiative.

  3. In Laos, HELVETAS is a founding partner of the Land Information Working Group (LIWG), a multi-stakeholder platform jointly advocating for secure land rights for smallholder farmers. While the LIWG itself is an actor, not an initiative, the campaigns it launches can be seen as initiatives.

  4. In Switzerland, HELVETAS is part of several policy networks and alliances, such as the Corporate Justice Coalition. While the membership itself must not be counted as an initiative, the campaigns launched by the coalition can be seen as initiatives (in this case a public sensitization campaign, and, from 2025 onwards, a constitutional referendum).

What is NOT an initiative

  • Organizing one roundtable with decision makers

  • Publishing a policy brief

  • A single meeting with CSOs

  • One public sensitization event

  • A newspaper article

Data Collection

Data Source and Means of Verification

Project documents (initiative reports, policy documents, program records).

Records from supported organizations or government entities (if needed).

Surveys and interviews with stakeholders involved in the initiatives (for feedback on quality and relevance).

 Media coverage
Measuring Frecuency

This can be checked on a yearly basis
Data Collection Guidance

Collect data through project reports, policy documents, and program records during each phase of the initiative. 
The project team should document the establishment, support, and outcomes of each initiative, including objectives, activities, and results.  

 If resources allow, conduct follow-up surveys or interviews to assess the long-term impact of the initiatives.  
Common Challenges

Attribution: It can be challenging to attribute changes directly to specific initiatives, as policy shifts often involve multiple actors and external influences.

Solution: Successful initiatives are counted regardless of direct attribution, but the narrative should reflect the initiative’s role in achieving change. Engaging stakeholders in documenting steps, using a theory of change to link actions to outcomes, and collecting testimonials or case studies from beneficiaries and partners can all help contextualize the initiative’s influence. Outcome harvesting is also valuable for tracing significant changes back to specific activities, providing nuanced insights into the initiative’s impact.

Measuring Success: Defining and measuring "success" can be subjective, especially if the desired outcomes of an initiative evolve over time or are partially achieved.

Solution: Establish clear, measurable success metrics at the beginning of the initiative. These metrics should reflect both short-term achievements (e.g., policy drafted) and longer-term impacts (e.g., policy implementation). Beyond quantitative outcomes, include qualitative measures (e.g., stakeholder engagement levels, public support) to assess broader impacts of the advocacy initiative and capture meaningful shifts in attitudes or awareness.

How to report

Aggregate the total number of successful initiatives established or supported to improve or change frame conditions (a subset of the initiatives counted in GCS 3.1.3, CTR 3.2.3, MIG 3.3.3, WSG 1.1.9, FAN 1.2.4, CDR 1.3.6, BED 2.1.4, VSD 2.2.4, PSD 2.3.3). In most projects this might zero or one, as initiatives take time to successes and many projects may only include one initiative.  
 
The data is reported annually. 
 
Each initiative should only be counted once, unless it changes significantly and can be considered as two initiatives. 

Related Indicators

Related Donor Indicators

Depending on the projects working field, this indicator can be assigned to different SDC Indicators

For CDR: DRR_TRI_3 Number of regional and/or national and/or local systems supported or influenced enhance the resilience to natural hazards (including climate and environmental hazards) of people, communities, countries and their assets

For CTR: FCHR_TRI_1 Number of civil society initiatives that contribute to preventing or reducing conflicts 

FOR WSG: WAT_TRI_1 Effectiveness of existing or newly introduced national policies and legal frameworks in the field of water

For Gender: GEN_TRI_7 Number of supported preventions or repeals of gender discriminatory laws, policies, and/or number of supported revised or new laws, policies, which promote gender equality and/or address gender-based violence 

For MIG: MIG_TRI_7 Number of supported policies and/or legal frameworks on migration and forced displacement which have been adopted at the national, regional or global level
Related HELVETAS Indicators

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