Why Data-Driven Development Matters Now More Than Ever

I wish someone had told me this earlier: good intentions aren’t enough. In the world of international development, passion gets you started, but it’s evidence that keeps you effective. As someone who has spent years in the trenches—running evaluations in conflict zones, analyzing outcomes in low-resource settings—I’ve seen firsthand how development work can go astray without solid data.

At Terra Firma International, we believe that data isn’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s a tool for justice. It reveals whose voices are missing, whose needs aren’t met, and where our efforts fall short. But to be useful, data must be inclusive, accessible, and embedded into every phase—from design to implementation to learning.

What Happens Without Data?

Programs often operate on assumptions: this activity will increase income, this training will reduce maternal mortality, this partnership will ensure sustainability. But when these assumptions go untested, we risk wasting precious resources—and worse, failing the people we set out to help.

For example, did you know that nearly 50% of development programs fail to achieve their intended outcomes due to poor problem framing and insufficient monitoring? According to a 2020 World Bank meta-evaluation, many projects lacked baseline data or didn’t adjust when indicators revealed problems early on.

Data + Inclusion = Better Development

Our approach is simple: use the data, but also question it. Who collected it? Who was left out? What story does it tell—and not tell? We work with partners to go beyond routine indicators. We blend quantitative and qualitative insights, and always center inclusion.

One of our recent projects involved assessing access to maternal health in conflict-affected regions. The raw numbers showed improvements in facility births, but interviews with women revealed hidden barriers—costs, stigma, distance—that the routine indicators had missed. That’s the power of combining methods.

Evidence Moves Us Forward

We believe in practical, actionable insights. Not long reports that gather dust. We help organizations ask the right questions, collect the right data, and learn from it—without overburdening their teams or communities.

As we launch this platform, we invite you to join us on a journey of evidence, empathy, and impact. Whether you’re a funder, implementer, or researcher, your decisions deserve better data. And we’re here to help you get it.

Subscribe to our insights and let’s build better together.