Accelerating Community Engagement: Measuring Results

Abstract

Objectives: Community engagement (CE) is vital for Primary Health Care (PHC) and for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. However, large public health programs often prioritize measuring outcomes and impact over assessing CE itself. This paper proposes a comprehensive, community-centered Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework with relevant indicators to strengthen CE assessment. Methods: We reviewed international M&E frameworks and their applications from both public health and community perspectives. Our analysis drew on guidelines from international organizations and 10 years of project data from seven countries. Results: Findings underscore the need to bridge program-level and community-level indicators while aligning recent M&E guidance with CE frameworks from international agencies. Accordingly, we present a revised, comprehensive, community-centered M&E framework, along with supporting actions for its implementation—such as contextual adaptation, research, digital innovation, resource mobilization, and recommended policy measures. Conclusion: As the 2030 targets approach, strengthening normative and policy guidance on CE is essential to accelerate progress toward the SDGs. This publication reinforces CE’s central role in PHC, Universal Health Coverage, and sustainable development strategies.