Experts Advocate Shift to Evidence-Based Impact Storytelling in Africa
By Ahmad Tijjani Abdul
KANO — Journalists, filmmakers, researchers and development communication experts have called for a paradigm shift in how development is reported across Africa, urging practitioners to move beyond documenting project implementation and instead focus on evidence of how interventions have changed people’s lives.
The call was made in Kano during The ISDI Founding Conversation, organised by the Impact Storytelling for Development Initiative (ISDI) under the theme, “Documenting What Changed: The Future of Evidence-Based Impact Storytelling in Africa.”
Speaking at the event, ISDI Founder and Executive Director, Ibrahim Ayyuba Isah, said the organisation was established to bridge the gap between development activities and the real-life impact they have on communities.
“Every development intervention has two stories. The first is the story of implementation. The second is the story of impact,” Isah said. “While implementation tells us what was done, impact storytelling asks a more important question: What changed? ISDI exists to document that second story through evidence, community voices and ethical storytelling.”
Participants observed that although governments, development partners and civil society organisations invest heavily in development programmes, the stories showing how those interventions transform lives often remain undocumented.
Chief Executive Officer of SIDES Media, Dr. Musa Sufi, described ISDI as a timely initiative capable of broadening conversations around sustainable development.
“It is inspiring to see an initiative like this coming from Kano. ISDI has given us another opportunity to make an impact and contribute to meaningful change,” he said.
On the role of solutions journalism, Fitila Podcast host and solutions journalist, Musbahu El-Hamza, said development reporting should not only celebrate successful interventions but also examine failed projects and the lessons they offer.
“If an intervention fails, someone should tell that story and explain why it did not work. That is equally important,” he said.
Head of News at Cool FM, Wazobia FM and Arewa Radio, Abdurrahman Isah, urged journalists to leave urban centres and report from communities where development challenges and successes are most visible.
“Building a school alone is not development. It becomes development only when it improves people’s quality of life. That is the story journalism should be telling,” he said, while stressing the need for sustained follow-up reporting.
Development journalist and Head of Programmes at Express Radio, Nafisa Murtala Ahmed, said communities must become active participants in telling their own development stories.
“We are not telling our own development stories or celebrating our community achievements. Development starts with you before it reaches the wider community,” she said.
Founder of KDC Foundation, Khalifa Dankadai, said impact storytelling strengthens accountability by assessing what has changed before and after development interventions.
“It helps hold donors, implementers and communities accountable while protecting the gains of development,” Dankadai noted.
Other contributors, including Dr. Najib Usman, Hannatu Suleiman, Hauwa Mustapha, Hayatuddeen Muhammad, Furera Isiaka and Umar Gombe, emphasised the importance of research, collaboration, community engagement and evidence-based documentation in promoting sustainable development across Africa.
The event also marked the official introduction of ISDI, an independent development communication institution dedicated to documenting sustainable development through journalism, documentary filmmaking, photography, research and strategic communication.
ISDI announced plans to establish the ISDI Academy, which will train young people, women, journalists, filmmakers, photographers and content creators in evidence-based impact storytelling and documentary production while fostering partnerships to amplify community voices across Africa.