Learning &Impact
Small Foundation is committed to impact measurement & management, learning and adaptation.
Our approach
Guided by impact
Impact is central to Small Foundation and we are dedicated to understanding and increasing it through learning from partners and stakeholders.
Our impact management and learning work is anchored in our organisational Theory of Change and is guided by a range of tools and frameworks including: Impact Europe’s five step process for measuring and managing impact, the Operating Principles for Impact Management, the Impact Management Project, and the indicator catalogue of GIIN IRIS+.
We have charted new paths around tracking impact due to system change and monitoring impact networks, and continue to build on this work.
Featured resource
Network Evaluation Toolkit
How does Small Foundation think about impact measurement and learning (IML) for impact networks?
Together with our partner Converge we developed an IML approach that focuses on understanding network performance, rather than compliance to a set number of quantifiable targets or indicators.
Impact reports
Our impact reports share snapshots of the outcomes and learning emerging from our partnerships—highlighting how, together, we adapt and contribute to strengthening the systems that enable MSMEs to thrive and reduce rural poverty across Africa.
Featured research
Beyond the Frontier: Decoding Viability in Smallholder Finance
The 2025 State of the Sector Report by ISF Advisors examines how smallholder finance can deliver impact while building viable, resilient systems. It provides data and analysis to help funders, investors, and practitioners understand market dynamics, assess viable business models, and design approaches that extend the reach and effectiveness of finance for smallholder farmers.
