Applying the Most Significant Change (MSC) Method: A case study using the Business Acceleration for Youth Project in Malawi
This insight note documents the application of the Most Significant Change (MSC) methodology in USAID Malawi's Business Acceleration for Youth project. MSC is a participatory qualitative approach that captures project outcomes through stakeholder storytelling. The project targeted youth-led enterpri...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Informe técnico |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
2024
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176246 |
| _version_ | 1855535226540785664 |
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| author | Mzumara, Grace Ngige, Chris Mwangi Nkhambule, Emily Sheriff, Ramadhan Kadammanja Slane, David |
| author_browse | Mzumara, Grace Ngige, Chris Mwangi Nkhambule, Emily Sheriff, Ramadhan Kadammanja Slane, David |
| author_facet | Mzumara, Grace Ngige, Chris Mwangi Nkhambule, Emily Sheriff, Ramadhan Kadammanja Slane, David |
| author_sort | Mzumara, Grace |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | This insight note documents the application of the Most Significant Change (MSC) methodology in USAID Malawi's Business Acceleration for Youth project. MSC is a participatory qualitative approach that captures project outcomes through stakeholder storytelling. The project targeted youth-led enterprises (ages 18-35) across agriculture, agroprocessing, tourism, and manufacturing sectors in four Malawian districts.
The five-step process involved defining change domains, collecting success stories, selecting impactful narratives, qualitative analysis, and stakeholder feedback. From 15 collected stories, seven were shortlisted and reviewed by Business Development Service providers. Trust Majamanda's story emerged as most significant, demonstrating business formalization, revenue doubling (from $1,176 to $2,353), workforce expansion from 4 to 6 employees, and achieving pre-certification from Malawi Bureau of Standards for her fortified porridge flour business.
Key challenges included reviewer conceptualization difficulties and feedback delays. The methodology proved cost-effective for maximizing qualitative data utility while engaging diverse stakeholders in evaluation processes. |
| format | Informe técnico |
| id | CGSpace176246 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publishDateRange | 2024 |
| publishDateSort | 2024 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1762462025-11-05T12:23:04Z Applying the Most Significant Change (MSC) Method: A case study using the Business Acceleration for Youth Project in Malawi Mzumara, Grace Ngige, Chris Mwangi Nkhambule, Emily Sheriff, Ramadhan Kadammanja Slane, David evaluation participatory approaches youth business management This insight note documents the application of the Most Significant Change (MSC) methodology in USAID Malawi's Business Acceleration for Youth project. MSC is a participatory qualitative approach that captures project outcomes through stakeholder storytelling. The project targeted youth-led enterprises (ages 18-35) across agriculture, agroprocessing, tourism, and manufacturing sectors in four Malawian districts. The five-step process involved defining change domains, collecting success stories, selecting impactful narratives, qualitative analysis, and stakeholder feedback. From 15 collected stories, seven were shortlisted and reviewed by Business Development Service providers. Trust Majamanda's story emerged as most significant, demonstrating business formalization, revenue doubling (from $1,176 to $2,353), workforce expansion from 4 to 6 employees, and achieving pre-certification from Malawi Bureau of Standards for her fortified porridge flour business. Key challenges included reviewer conceptualization difficulties and feedback delays. The methodology proved cost-effective for maximizing qualitative data utility while engaging diverse stakeholders in evaluation processes. 2024-12-01 2025-08-28T13:36:27Z 2025-08-28T13:36:27Z Report https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176246 en Open Access application/pdf Mzumara, G.; Ngige, C.M.; Nkhambule, E.; Sheriff, R.K.; Slane, D. (2024) Applying the Most Significant Change (MSC) Method: A case study using the Business Acceleration for Youth Project in Malawi. Insight Note Vol 4: |
| spellingShingle | evaluation participatory approaches youth business management Mzumara, Grace Ngige, Chris Mwangi Nkhambule, Emily Sheriff, Ramadhan Kadammanja Slane, David Applying the Most Significant Change (MSC) Method: A case study using the Business Acceleration for Youth Project in Malawi |
| title | Applying the Most Significant Change (MSC) Method: A case study using the Business Acceleration for Youth Project in Malawi |
| title_full | Applying the Most Significant Change (MSC) Method: A case study using the Business Acceleration for Youth Project in Malawi |
| title_fullStr | Applying the Most Significant Change (MSC) Method: A case study using the Business Acceleration for Youth Project in Malawi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Applying the Most Significant Change (MSC) Method: A case study using the Business Acceleration for Youth Project in Malawi |
| title_short | Applying the Most Significant Change (MSC) Method: A case study using the Business Acceleration for Youth Project in Malawi |
| title_sort | applying the most significant change msc method a case study using the business acceleration for youth project in malawi |
| topic | evaluation participatory approaches youth business management |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176246 |
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