Data Informed Advocacy
COMPASS treats Monitoring, Evaluation, Results and Learning as a core advocacy capability. Our MERL system helps coalitions understand the policy environment, develop evidence-based strategies, assess which tactics are working and adapt campaigns as conditions change.
It also tracks COMPASS contributions to changes in policies, programmes, systems and investments over time. This enables partners to demonstrate results, strengthen accountability and show the value generated by investments in advocacy.
An integrated advocacy and learning system
Planning Tool
Plan from evidence
The Landscape Analysis and Strategic Action Planning Tool (LSAP) helps coalitions analyse the policy environment, clarify the change they seek and develop advocacy strategies grounded in country realities.
Assessment Tool
Assess and strengthen advocacy outcomes
The COMPASS Coalition Advocacy Assessment Tool (C-CAAT) enables partners to identify and assess advocacy advances and setbacks against three dimensions:
- Significance: the importance and scale of the change;
- Influenceability: the extent to which coalition advocacy contributed to the change; and
- Durability: the likelihood that the change will be sustained.
The assessment helps coalitions distinguish a promising development from a substantial and lasting outcome. Partners then use the findings to define follow-up actions, determine when those actions should occur and adjust campaign tactics. Lessons are shared across the coalition to strengthen subsequent advocacy.
Contribution Evaluation
Demonstrate contribution to change
The Simple Participatory Assessment of Real Change (SPARC) enables partners to examine advocacy outcomes in greater depth. Through participatory reflection, partners identify the most significant outcomes and assess:
- what changed and why it matters;
- how COMPASS and its partners contributed;
- the evidence supporting the outcome; and
- what must happen next to consolidate or extend the change.
SPARC converts this analysis into an evidence-based account of the advocacy journey. It also identifies follow-up actions and the timeframe within which they should be pursued, ensuring that documented outcomes inform the next stage of advocacy.
Coalition Health
Strengthen coalition performance
The Coalition Health Scorecard assesses alignment around shared vision, mission and values, alongside governance, trust and partnership effectiveness. Findings guide coalition-strengthening actions and contributed to the development of the COMPASS governance manual and governance approach.
MERL embedded across the coalition
The MERL Champions Programme decentralises MERL by building dedicated capacity within country coalitions and partner organisations. MERL Champions support evidence generation, application of COMPASS tools, campaign reflection and consistent documentation of advocacy results.
The MERL Handbook for Advocates provides practical guidance for integrating results and learning into advocacy planning and implementation. It helps advocates define intended changes, select appropriate measures, document contribution and use evidence to refine strategy.
Outcome tracking, reflection meetings and case studies connect learning across countries. This enables COMPASS to identify effective advocacy pathways, strengthen follow-up and carry tested approaches into national, regional and global advocacy.
