Stephanie de Ryckman, MEL Consultant
Stephanie de Ryckman, MEL Consultant
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Impact measurement solutions for sustainable food systems
Impact measurement solutions for sustainable food systems
Sustainable food systems are critical to addressing some of the most pressing issues of our time, from degraded soils, natural resource depletion, and biodiversity loss to precarious rural livelihoods and vulnerability to climate change.
Governments and NGOs alone cannot solve these problems: every actor along the value chain from farm to fork will need to adopt an impact mindset, gradually weaving the complex web of a truly sustainable global food system.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) plays a vital role in this transition by providing data and insights to help organisations and businesses clearly map their impact pathways, measure whether their efforts are truly creating positive change, and adapt their strategies based on the evidence.
My approach
My approach
Whatever the task at hand, three key philosophies underpin everything I do:
Holistic systems thinking
Holistic systems thinking
Data collection and reporting solutions must be designed with the whole system in mind. Impact measurement is necessarily a cross-cutting activity; due consideration of how all the moving parts will interact ensures a smooth-functioning monitoring, evaluation and learning sytem.
Human-centred design
Human-centred design
Despite the increasing presence of technology in the data and reporting landscape, humans are still at the centre of any impact measurement initiative. Usability is paramount. Solutions must be user-friendly, with tools and processes that are intuitive and pragmatic.
Embedded data quality
Embedded data quality
High-quality data begins with good design of tools and systems, and must be embedded throughout the impact measurement process. From clear definition of metrics, to robust surveys, data collection tools with built-in validity checks, and novel AI approaches to data auditing.
Client snapshot
Client snapshot
Services
Services
The services I offer fall broadly under three categories:
Technical assistance
Technical assistance
This is for you if you need a no-fuss solution to create or strengthen your impact measurement tools, from conceptual frameworks to data collection tools and evaluation reports.
Coordination & Facilitation
Coordination & Facilitation
This is for you if your team needs guidance to co-create or steward their own impact frameworks and tools. This could be via workshops or via regular coordination activities.
Capacity building
Capacity building
This is for you if you need to increase your team's knowledge and readiness for impact measurement, from enumerator prep for a survey to high-level concepts for executive stakeholders.
About me
About me
Hi, I'm Stephanie.
Ever since my childhood in Botswana, running around among the avocado and fig trees in our dusty garden, I've had an innate sense of connection to the land and the joy of growing food.
I've spent the last 11 years helping impact-focused organisations design smart performance metrics and collect high-quality data to measure the impact of their work and to learn, adapt, and improve their delivery.
My career in international development has taken me to villages, farms, and factories around the world, from Pakistan, India, and Malaysia to Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia.
My focus on sustainable agrifood has gradually deepened through professional experience as well as personal pursuits, including farm volunteering and a hands-on permaculture course. I'm currently studying Food & Sustainability at the European Institute of Innovation for Sustainability.
My mission for the next decade of my career is to help broaden access to impact measurement tools and approaches, to support the wave of B-corporations and other mission-driven organisations in Europe who want to embed sustainability and positive impact into their business models.
Whether you are an established NGO, a mission-driven startup, or even a farm, restaurant, or other food-related business, I can help you leverage data and insights to achieve your intended impact.
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