Lean Data

Lean Data is a pioneering impact measurement approach developed by Acumen to place end-users, especially underserved communities at the center of evaluation. Unlike traditional M&E systems that often prioritize donor requirements, Lean Data emphasizes listening directly to people’s experiences through fast, affordable, and accessible methods such as SMS, mobile calls, and digital surveys. By blending short quantitative indicators with rich qualitative insights, Lean Data enables organizations to generate actionable findings quickly and use them to adapt, improve, and build trust with the communities they serve.

Key Features:

• End-user focus — Centers measurement around the voices and experiences of communities rather than external reporting needs
• Technology-enabled — Leverages mobile phones, SMS, and digital tools for cost-effective, scalable data collection
• Rapid feedback loops — Provides real-time insights that drive immediate decision-making and program adjustments
• Iterative design — Continuously refines questions and methods based on user input and evolving contexts
• Light-touch methods — Keeps surveys short, simple, and respectful of participants’ time
• Trust-building — Shares findings with respondents to foster transparency and engagement
• Cross-sector application — Applied in health, education, agriculture, energy access, gender equity, financial inclusion, WASH, and social protection programs
• Gender-responsive lens — Identifies differential impacts across gender roles, responsibilities, and power dynamics

Lean Data empowers organizations to learn and act in real time. By centering on dignity, accessibility, and continuous adaptation, it helps social enterprises, non-profits, and development programs remain agile, responsive, and accountable to the people they aim to serve.