Short Abstract

This session explores how Participatory Video Most Significant Change (PVMSC) builds evaluation cultures by co-producing evidence with adolescents, embedding reflection and learning in decision-making, and using ethical, user-led storytelling to value diverse voices.

Description

Healthy Cities for Adolescents (HCA) is Fondation Botnar’s flagship initiative, managed by Ecorys, to create cities that are fit for adolescents. Now in its second phase (2022–2026), HCA operates in six countries, supporting projects that address adolescent health and wellbeing in diverse urban contexts.

This session introduces an innovative, participatory, and user-centred method used in HCA to enhance learning and reflection. Drawing on implementation experience, we will demonstrate the transformative potential of this approach, share a practical example, and reflect on lessons learned from both evaluator and implementor (InsightShare) perspectives on fostering an evaluation culture.

Aligned with Theme 2, the session will present PVMSC - a method combining Participatory Video (PV) with the story-based Most Significant Change (MSC) technique. Grounded in equitable evaluation and participatory action research, this approach enables adolescents to film, edit, and share their own stories of change, taking the lead in identifying and analysing what matters most to them. Through visual storytelling, they generate evidence for local action, learning, and advocacy.

Our experience with PVMSC illustrates its value, relevance and feasibility in complex programmes.

1. Ethical storytelling: PVMSC shifts away from extractive practices in which external actors (often in the Global North) interpret service user data. Instead, it co-produces evidence that centres adolescents in MEL, redefining what counts as evidence from externally set indicators to locally defined significance.

2. Adolescent agency: It exemplifies evaluation as empowerment, with adolescents acting as co-evaluators and co-communicators, generating evidence in their own words through creative expression.

3. Capacity strengthening: The process builds lasting skills among grantee organisations and young people in digital media, storytelling, participatory research, MEL, civic engagement, and facilitation.

4. Local ownership: Participatory analysis, collaborative reflection, and community film screenings become platforms for local sense-making, dialogue, and advocacy that inform ongoing learning and policy action.

The session will showcase examples of PVMSC in action and share lessons on creating environments where evidence is valued and used for local action beyond traditional reporting and accountability.

Please note, we are aware of Social Development Direct’s abstract submission on YET, and confirm that this is a different approach and that there is no overlap between the sessions’ content.