Wajoli's Journey to Measurable Impact

With the right tools and support, Wajoli Foundation is now telling a clearer story of change, one that reflects both heart and results.

In Gulu, Northern Uganda, project J967N Wajoli Foundation is creating education, health, and livelihood opportunities for vulnerable women and children. But while their impact on the ground was evident, they faced a challenge: how to clearly measure and communicate the long-term outcomes of their work.

Attending the Global Development Group 2023 Kampala Partner Network Meeting was a turning point. Through GDG-led sessions on outcomes reporting, impact measurement, and storytelling, the team gained practical tools and clarity.

Since then, Wajoli has launched an outcomes-focused reporting system, trained their management team in Microsoft 365, and revamped their website with impact stories and videos. They’ve formed a dedicated marketing team trained in branding and Canva, and appointed a Lead Fundraising Officer in Australia to strengthen donor engagement. Most importantly, they can now demonstrate real results.

This is the kind of growth that happens when local vision is matched with the right tools and support — a clear example of how the GDG partnership equips in-country leaders not just to deliver change, but to communicate it with confidence, clarity, and long-term impact.

We asked Wajoli Foundation’s General Manager, Alex Odoch, to share his experience with us, and here’s what he had to say:

What was a challenge you were working to improve?

Before the October 2023 Network Meeting in Kampala, one of our main challenges was effectively measuring and reporting project outcomes. Most of our reports focused on outputs, such as activities completed or beneficiaries reached, without clearly demonstrating the impact and transformation brought about by our projects.

What support or input from the partnership did you find most helpful?

The training and guidance provided during the Network Meeting were extremely valuable. We gained a clear understanding of how to distinguish outcomes from outputs, and how to collect and present meaningful impact data. The insights shared by the GDG team (Josh and Dan) helped us realign our approach to storytelling and reporting in a more strategic and inspiring way.

What’s changed since then?

Since the meeting, we’ve implemented a number of important changes:

• We developed a reporting system that captures and communicates project outcomes effectively.
• We produced personalised Christmas appreciation videos (December 2024) for our supporters and project videos showcasing community transformation, which are available on our website.
• We improved our website to highlight impact stories and videos.
• We published a Project Impact Report for our major programs and plan to launch monthly newsletters.
• We established a Marketing Team, which received training in branding and content creation using Canva.
• Our management team completed Microsoft 365 training, which improved communication, coordination and documentation.
• We also hired a Lead Fundraising Officer based in Australia to strengthen our engagement with donors and supporters and to help us build more sustainable funding relationships.

Can you share a number or example that shows the difference before and after?

Previously, our reports might state, “20 women trained in business skills.” Today, thanks to improved follow-up and data tracking, we can report that 8 of those women have started small enterprises (Business), with 40% reporting a noticeable improvement in household income and food security. These kinds of results help us communicate real change to our stakeholders/ Supporters.

What would you say about the value of this kind of support?

The support from GDG has been transformative. It has equipped us with practical tools and strategic direction that have improved not only how we work but also how we communicate our impact. This type of capacity-building enables small organisations like ours (Wajoli Foundation Uganda Limited) to think long-term, become more sustainable, and build trust with both local and international partners.

Alex’s journey with Wajoli Foundation is a powerful example of what happens when dedicated local leaders are equipped with the right tools and support. His team’s commitment to learning, adapting, and applying new skills has transformed the way they work and the way they share their story of impact. Across our network, we see the same determination in partners who take what they’ve learned and turn it into lasting change for their communities. This is the true strength of GDG’s Partner Network Meetings: a space where vision meets practical training, where leaders sharpen their skills, and where local organisations are empowered to grow stronger and more sustainable for the future.