the most significant change (MSC) technique is a form of participatory monitoring and
evaluation. It is participatory because many project stakeholders are involved both
in deciding the sorts of change to be recorded and in analysing the data. It is a form of
monitoring because it occurs throughout the program cycle and provides information to help
people manage the program. It contributes to evaluation because it provides data on impact
and outcomes that can be used to help assess the performance of the program as a whole.
Essentially, the process involves the collection of significant change (SC) stories emanating
from the field level, and the systematic selection of the most significant of these stories
by panels of designated stakeholders or staff. The designated staff and stakeholders are
initially involved by ‘searching’ for project impact. Once changes have been captured,
various people sit down together, read the stories aloud and have regular and often in-depth
discussions about the value of these reported changes. When the technique is implemented
successfully, whole teams of people begin to focus their attention on program impact.