Indicator Definition
| Indicator Name | VIC 3.3 Proportion of people in the targeted areas who perceive an improvement in social cohesion |
|---|---|
| Indicator Definition | This indicator should be included in projects, in all working fields, where social cohesion is a defined outcome. If social cohesion is a possible, but not primary, outcome of the project, inclusion of this indicator is optional. Social cohesion, defined informally by UNDP as “the extent of trust in government and within society and the willingness to participate collectively toward a shared vision of sustainable peace and common development goals”. People: It is important to note that, in VIC projects, "people" refers to all individuals within the target area, with particular emphasis on women, underserved, vulnerable, and marginalized groups, as well as those in the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) categories. This includes citizens, permanent/long time residents, migrants, such as forcibly displaced persons, refugees, ensuring that those who are often excluded or face barriers to participation are prioritized in governance initiatives. |
| Indicator Level | Outcome |
Disaggregation
| Disaggregation |
Optional Migration status
|
|---|---|
| Measuring Unit | People, including LNOB categories, living in the targeted areas. |
Kobo Questionnaires
Examples of Actvities
Community Dialogue Forums: Organize regular forums where community members from diverse backgrounds can discuss issues, voice concerns, share experiences, and build mutual understanding.
Intercultural Exchange Programs: Facilitate cultural exchange activities that promote understanding and respect between different ethnic, religious, and social groups.
Peacebuilding Workshops: Conduct workshops focused on conflict resolution, negotiation skills, and peacebuilding strategies for community leaders and members.
Joint Community Projects: Support collaborative projects that bring together people from different groups to work on common goals, such as infrastructure improvements, environmental conservation, or social services.
Joint advocacy initiatives: Support (local) citizen groups advocating (local) authorities for positive change in a constructive, transparent and inclusive manner.
Youth Engagement/Intergenerational Initiatives: Implement programs that engage youth in leadership, civic activities, and social cohesion efforts, fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose.
Awareness Campaigns: Run or support campaigns that promote the values of inclusiveness, mutual respect, and cooperation among community members.
Inclusive Governance and Participation: Strengthen local governance structures to be more inclusive and representative of all community members.
Social Events and Activities: Organize or support sports, arts, and cultural events that encourage interaction and positive relationships among different community groups.
Support for Local Mediation: Train and support local mediators to address and resolve conflicts within the community effectively.
Community Infrastructure Projects: Develop and improve community infrastructure that benefits all members and fosters shared use and interaction.
Social Protection Programs: Implement social protection initiatives that support vulnerable groups and promote social inclusion.
Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery: Engage communities in disaster risk reduction and recovery efforts that require collective action and cooperation.
Cultural Preservation and Promotion: Promote the preservation and celebration of local cultures and traditions.
Data Collection
| Data Source and Means of Verification | Primary Source: Surveys with a representative sample of the target population. Additional Source: Focus group discussions or other methods for qualitative insights. Note: Data for VIC 3.1, VIC 3.2, VIC 3.3, and VIC 3.4 should ideally be collected in the same survey (if relevant). |
|---|---|
| Measuring Frecuency |
Annual surveys help track ongoing progress. Baseline and endline studies will be more comprehensive than annual outcome monitoring as they should include in-depth data on service access (collected also for VIC 3.1), providing a fuller picture of long-term impact. |
| Data Collection Guidance | Surveys: Ask a sample of people in the community about their perception of social cohesion—how much they trust, respect, and feel a sense of belonging with others in their community. Use stratified random sampling to ensure representativeness of relevant groups. Do not sample the same individuals repeatedly. Instead, gather data from new representative samples each time. While surveys are the primary method for collecting data, it is encouraged to use complementary qualitative methods to enrich findings: |
| Common Challenges | Challenge: No budget/capacity for doing surveys. Approach: Result measurement should be part of every projects’ budget, so remember to include this early in the planning phase. Conducting the data collection planning and data management will make it much more cost efficient and more valuable than to hire consultants. Possible approaches to reduce the complexity and cost of data collection could be to use digital platforms or mobile apps (preferably KOBO). Train local stakeholders or community volunteers to conduct surveys, ensuring cost-effective and culturally sensitive data gathering. Incorporate participatory methods, such as focus groups or community mapping, to complement quantitative surveys and enhance local ownership of the process. And leverage partnerships with other NGOs or academic institutions to co-develop survey methodologies and share resources. Challenge: Difficulty in reaching and surveying marginalized or hard-to-reach populations, such as migrants and forcibly displaced persons, who may purposefully remain unregistered, may lack stable housing or access to communication channels. Approach: Use mobile data collection teams, partnerships with local NGOs, or community leaders to reach these groups and gather accurate data. Challenge: Different groups in the community may have different views and needs. Approach: Make sure to include voices from all parts of the community, especially marginalized groups. Challenge: Some people might not trust surveys, especially if they have low confidence in governance. Approach: Build trust by explaining the purpose of the survey and how it will help improve their community. |
How to report
Calculate the proportion of people in the sample who perceive improved social cohesion. Its best if you set a social cohesion minimal score such as minimal 2.5 out of max 4 in order that a person's count as perceiving social cohesion in their community.
Proportion = (Number of respondents who perceive social cohesion) / (Total number of respondents surveyed)
Repeat this calculation for disaggregated categories (e.g., gender, age, vulnerable groups).
Report the numerator and denominator to ensure consistency and transparency across projects.
A social cohesion score:
Using the questionnaire (see below) it is also possible to calculate a “social cohesion score” that can be used for comparing average social cohesion level between different points in time. This calculation is programmed in the Kobo form by Helvetas. The social cohesion score is the average score of the six dimensions of social cohesion: Trust, collective action norms, sense of belonging, identity, attitudes toward out-groups, and civic engagement. The scale runs from 0 (lowest level of cohesion) to 4 highest level of cohesion.
Numerator: The number of respondents who perceive an improvement in social cohesion in their community.
Denominator: The total number of people surveyed (sample size).
Population: The population (including LNOB categories) in areas where Helvetas-supported social cohesion initiatives are active.