By Rabiu Sanusi
Journalists, filmmakers, researchers and development communication experts have called for a fundamental shift in the way development is documented in Africa, urging media practitioners and development actors to move beyond reporting project implementation and focus on the tangible impact of interventions on people’s lives.
The call was made during the ISDI Founding Conversation, organised by the Impact Storytelling for Development Initiative (ISDI) in Kano under the theme: “Documenting What Changed: The Future of Evidence-Based Impact Storytelling in Africa.”
The invitation-only event officially introduced ISDI, an independent development communication and impact storytelling organisation dedicated to documenting sustainable development through evidence-based journalism, documentary filmmaking, photography, research and strategic communication.
In his opening address, the Founder and Executive Director of ISDI, Ibrahim Ayyuba Isah, said the organisation was established to bridge the gap between development interventions and the human stories that demonstrate their real impact.
“Every development intervention has two stories. The first is the story of implementation, while the second is the story of impact.
“Implementation tells us what was done, but impact storytelling asks a more important question: What changed? ISDI exists to document that second story through evidence, community voices and ethical storytelling,” he said.
Participants agreed that although governments, development agencies and civil society organisations invest significant resources in development programmes, many stories demonstrating how those interventions transform lives remain untold.
The Chief Executive Officer of SIDES Media, Dr. Musa Sufi, described ISDI as a timely initiative capable of broadening conversations around development.
“It is inspiring to see an initiative like this emerging from Kano. ISDI has created another platform for making meaningful impact by giving more people the opportunity to contribute to development conversations,” he said.
Speaking on the role of solutions journalism, Solutions Journalist and Host of Fitila Podcast, Musbahu El-Hamza, said development communication must go beyond celebrating successes.
“Development stories should not only focus on what works; they should also examine what does not work and why.
“If an intervention fails, someone must tell that story and explain the reasons behind the failure. That is equally important,” he suggested.
The Head of News at Cool FM, Wazobia FM and Arewa Radio, Abdurrahman Isah, challenged journalists to move beyond urban centres in search of stories that truly matter.
“Building a school alone is not development. It becomes development only when it improves people’s lives and creates lasting change within the community. That is the story journalism should be telling,” he emphasized.
He also stressed the importance of persistence in reporting, noting that meaningful change often results from sustained follow-up journalism rather than one-off coverage.
Development Journalist and Head of Programmes at Express Radio, Nafisa Murtala Ahmed, said development storytelling begins when communities tell their own stories.
“We are not telling enough of our own development stories or celebrating the achievements within our communities.
“Development starts with the individual. When you develop yourself, you are better positioned to contribute to the development of your community.”
She added that journalists must move beyond reporting events to producing stories that reflect people’s lived experiences.
The Founder of KDC Foundation, Khalifa Dankadai, described impact storytelling as an essential tool for promoting accountability and ensuring the sustainability of development interventions.
“Impact storytelling ensures that we do not simply report implementation but critically examine what changed, what the situation was before an intervention and how it has improved afterward.
“It strengthens accountability among donors, implementers and communities while safeguarding development gains.”
Other contributors, including Dr. Najib Usman, Hannatu Suleiman, Hauwa Mustapha, Hayatuddeen Muhammad, Furera Isiaka and Umar Gombe, highlighted the importance of community engagement, inclusion, collaboration, research, follow-up reporting and evidence-based documentation in advancing sustainable development across Africa.
The conversation concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen collaboration among journalists, researchers, filmmakers, development practitioners and communication professionals in documenting measurable development outcomes and amplifying community voices.
Looking ahead, ISDI announced plans to expand its activities beyond storytelling through strategic partnerships, research, public dialogue and the establishment of the ISDI Academy, which will train young people, women, content creators, photographers, filmmakers and journalists in evidence-based impact storytelling and documentary production.
