Impact Measurement Framework
In 2022, COLC retained Entremission, a Montréal-based social enterprise that works with social-impact organizations, to co-develop an impact measurement framework for the Canadian Ocean Literacy Strategy and COLC’s public ocean engagement initiatives with collaborating partners.
High impact public ocean engagement initiatives are designed to create positive shifts in ocean knowledge, ocean values, and ocean actions – critical dimensions to building an ocean-engaged society. Shifts may occur across different scales, from one individual to an organization, community, or sector. A shift begins with a change within one individual or organization, and long-term impact occurs once a critical mass of people in a community or organizations in a sector are acting upon their shared knowledge and values.
Our Impact Model
To initiate impact, people fostering ocean connections first create or circulate a catalyst. Catalysts include events, tools, training experiences, or funding opportunities.
People interact with a catalyst, which helps to increase their understanding, appreciation, capacity, or willingness to act in support of a healthy ocean. The frequency and depth of these interactions is measured by engagement metrics, such as participation and usage.
Engagement with a catalyst facilitates a change in knowledge, values, and actions. Change is usually measured through user surveys and dedicated feedback and insights sharing forums with participants and partners. Essential impact questions are explored: What’s working? What’s not? How do we know? What are we measuring? What changes are we seeing?
NATIONAL Strategy Impact Measurement
Measuring outputs and impact of key ocean literacy initiatives provide leading indicators of progress towards the National Strategy’s overarching goals. Annual Impact Reports collectively provide a snapshot of the state of ocean literacy in Canada and help reveal trends and progress throughout the Ocean Decade and beyond.