Adapting the RAAM Toolkit for Social Impact Organisations

Mar 27

4 min read

For organisations working in social impact—whether community-based organisations (CBOs), corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, or foundations—data-driven decision-making is critical. However, traditional monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) approaches often require direct engagement with communities. What happens when this is not possible due to logistical, security, or social constraints?

The Reduced Access Analytical Methods (RAAM) Toolkit, developed by Mercy Corps, provides a solution. Initially designed for humanitarian settings, RAAM offers remote data collection and analysis techniques that can also benefit social impact organizations operating in restricted-access environments. This article explores how CBOs, CSR teams, and social enterprises can adapt RAAM to enhance impact measurement and decision-making.

Understanding the RAAM Toolkit

The RAAM Toolkit consists of five key methodologies:

Context Mapping – Identifies key actors, trends, and challenges in a specific environment without direct field engagement.
Rumour Tracking – Monitors misinformation, perceptions, and narratives that shape program success.
Remote Sensing – Uses satellite imagery, drones, and geospatial data to track environmental or infrastructure changes.
Data Triangulation – Cross-references multiple sources of information to validate findings.
Transaction Analysis – Examines economic activities, financial transactions, and market trends to understand social and economic shifts.

Traditionally used in conflict zones and disaster areas, these methods can also support MERL efforts in social impact initiatives where direct engagement is challenging.

Making RAAM Relevant for Social Impact Organisations

1. Community-Based Organisations (CBOs): Overcoming Limited Field Access

Challenge: Many CBOs rely on direct community engagement to assess needs and track progress. However, political instability, health crises, or remote locations can limit in-person data collection.

RAAM Solution:

Rumour Tracking can help CBOs understand misconceptions about interventions (e.g., tracking misinformation about vaccination programs).
Context Mapping allows organisations to monitor community dynamics and key influencers using online discussions, media reports, or local networks.

Example: A youth empowerment CBO in a politically unstable region could use Context Mapping to analyse social media conversations and identify emerging challenges faced by local youth—without requiring physical presence.

2. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiatives: Measuring Impact Remotely

Challenge: Corporate foundations and CSR teams invest in long-term social programs but often lack the capacity to conduct frequent on-the-ground assessments.

RAAM Solution:

Transaction Analysis can track the economic effects of CSR programs like financial literacy or small business grants.
Remote Sensing can be used for environmental CSR programs (e.g., tracking reforestation or water conservation progress).

Example: A corporate foundation funding an entrepreneurship program in rural areas can analyse mobile money transactions to measure whether beneficiaries are increasing business activity, reducing reliance on cash, and gaining financial independence.

3. Social Enterprises: Leveraging Alternative Data Sources for Impact Measurement

Challenge: Social enterprises need to demonstrate impact to investors and stakeholders, but standard data collection methods can be expensive or impractical in certain markets.

RAAM Solution:

Data Triangulation can combine sales data, customer feedback, and local economic indicators to assess social impact without direct surveys.
Remote Sensing can track infrastructure or environmental changes linked to social enterprise interventions.

Example: A renewable energy startup distributing solar home systems in last-mile communities can use Remote Sensing to compare satellite data on nighttime light emissions—demonstrating an increase in electrification in project areas.

Practical Steps for Implementing RAAM in Social Impact Work

Step 1: Identify Your Constraints and Goals

Is your challenge limited field access, high costs, security concerns, or participant reluctance?
What insights do you need to collect to measure impact effectively?

Step 2: Select the Right RAAM Method(s)

If you need to…

Understand local needs & challenges -> Context Mapping
Track misinformation & public sentiment -> Rumour Tracking
Assess physical/environmental impact -> Remote Sensing
Cross-check multiple data sources -> Data Triangulation
Measure financial & economic changes -> Transaction Analysis

Step 3: Leverage Existing Data Sources

Social Media & Community Radio: Use Rumour Tracking to monitor public sentiment about programs.
Financial Transactions & Mobile Money: Use Transaction Analysis to track economic shifts in targeted groups.
Satellite Imagery & Drones: Use Remote Sensing to measure environmental and infrastructure changes.

Step 4: Combine RAAM with Traditional MERL Approaches

RAAM should not replace participatory methods but rather complement them:

If face-to-face surveys are difficult, use Data Triangulation to validate secondary data.
If in-person monitoring is inconsistent, use Remote Sensing to track progress remotely.

Step 5: Translate Insights into Action

CSR teams can adjust funding strategies based on transaction trends.
CBOs can counter misinformation through targeted community engagement.
Social enterprises can refine business models by analysing financial transaction data.

Conclusion: A New Tool for Social Impact Measurement

RAAM is not just for humanitarian aid—it’s a powerful tool for social impact organisations facing challenges in data collection. By integrating remote sensing, economic analysis, and digital monitoring into MERL practices, organisations can enhance their ability to make informed, strategic decisions—even in restricted-access settings.

For CBOs, CSR teams, and social enterprises, RAAM offers a way to measure impact more efficiently, adapt programs in real-time, and ensure interventions reach the people who need them most.

Would your organization benefit from RAAM? Start by identifying a project where remote monitoring could enhance your impact measurement strategy—and experiment with one of these five powerful methods.