Reimagining Impact: Afrofuturism, Imagination, and Traditional MERL Practices

In a world demanding bold and transformative solutions, the field of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) often finds itself constrained by traditional, linear approaches. 

Traditional MERL frameworks emphasize measurable indicators, quantitative data, and rigid evaluation criteria.

These methodologies, while systematic and output-focused, fail to capture the complexity, nuances of lived experiences, community-driven innovation, and creativity needed to address systemic challenges. Traditional approaches have often been extractive, reinforcing power imbalances between funders and the communities social impact projects aim to serve. 

What's even more worrying is that more and more non-profits move towards evidence based projects. But what happens when the "evidence" is built on shaky ground? What happens when so much is not measured, or indicators of success are predetermined by people far removed from the contexts where they work? 

The result- we get poorly designed social impact projects that do not do justice to the people, and environments, most impacted by social inequities.

To truly support community-driven change, we need to finance learning and evidence that prioritizes pedagogies of care, intersectionality, systems thinking, and anti-oppressive research approaches. We need to dare to think differently.

The Role of Imagination in MERL

“To take imagination seriously as a site of struggle and a place of possibility for reshaping the future.” Ruha Benjamin

I recently read Ruha Benjamin’s Imagination: A Manifesto, which sparked so many reflections for me.

This book offers a profound exploration of Imagination as a tool for envisioning and constructing more equitable futures. Ruha explores, with multiple examples, the ways in which Imagination has been used as a tool for liberation as well as an instrument of oppression.

It got me thinking about the world of learning and evaluation.

If evidence is to be a true catalyst for social impact, how might we reimagine MERL practices to embrace imagination and speculative thinking?

This question resonated even more deeply after a recent visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, a stunning display on activism and imagination. It highlighted how Black communities have historically used imagination not just as a tool for survival but as a blueprint for liberation. From speculative art to visions of radical futures, the museum emphasized the power of creativity in driving systemic change.

 It reminded me that activism rooted in imagination isn’t merely about resisting oppression but about boldly, and collectively, envisioning and building better worlds.

Radical hope complements imagination, grounding us in the belief that change is possible through sustained effort. 

Imagination is deeply undervalued in traditional MERL practices, yet we know it is the seed of innovation. It allows us to envision possibilities beyond the constraints of current systems, daring us to dream of transformative futures that centre justice, equity, and collective well-being. It is a tool of resistance, disrupting oppressive narratives and sparking innovation for meaningful solutions.

Afrofuturism as a Framework for Reimagining MERL

Integrating imagination and radical hope into social impact conversations ensures we do not merely react to problems but actively create spaces for visionary thinking and transformative action - and this is where we can learn a lot from Afro-Futurism. 

Rooted in Black diaspora communities' histories, experiences, and speculative imaginations, Afrofuturism blends science fiction, technology, and ancestral knowledge to envision liberatory futures. It challenges linear narratives of progress and invites us to imagine worlds where equity, justice, and community resilience are central.

These concepts remind us that change begins with the courage to dream and the commitment to turn those dreams into reality, empowering communities to co-create futures that align with their values and aspirations.

As Ian Forrester shares, 

“Afrofuturism is not just an aesthetic — it’s just as much a framework for activism and imagining new technologies.”

So, why is this relevant to Social Impact Practitioners? 

As I shared at the beginning of this article, MERL has got a terrible reputation. No one likes it! We know that oppressive MERL processes often excludes and reinforce inequities, leading to flawed solutions. 

At Design for Social Impact, we emphasize that the process is as important as the product. We amplify and create communities of practice that centre co-creation and equity-centred methodologies to ensure that outcomes reflect the values, aspirations, and agency of communities. Only through intentional and inclusive approaches can we create genuinely transformative systems and solutions.

Incorporating Imagination and Afrofuturist thinking into MERL shifts the focus from reactive problem-solving to proactive imagining of liberatory futures.

We are not the first to be inspired by Afrofuturism.

There are a growing body of academics and social activists exploring different ways of integrating Afrofuturism and Imagination more broadly for evidence gathering and knowledge brokering for social justice issues. For example, scholar-activists Temidayo Eseonu and Florence Okye, worked on a Afro-Futurist informed project, engaging over 50 young Black people across Birmingham, London, and Manchester. Through workshops using visualization, problem-solving, and creativity, participants explored structural racism and co-produced knowledge to address racism and inequality. The young people came up with solutions for the systemic issues that they discussed, including an idea for an emotional support robot and an inclusive Black history curriculum embedded throughout the school year, prototypes, comics, and artwork reflecting their experiences and envisioned changes.

Would they have reached the same conclusions using traditional practices? I doubt it. And this example shows how building on concepts integral to Afrofuturism can generate practical and visionary ideas for change, and its potential in public service design.

The Importance of Afrofuturism in Design for Social Impact work

As part of Design for Social Impact's commitment to supporting equity-centred program, policy and research design, we work with practitioners and facilitate learning led by social impact designers whose work is deeply rooted in anti- oppressive methods and concepts.

For example, Afrofuturism’s principles are woven throughout our Research Design for Social Impact course, which relaunches on the 10th of January 2025. We learn from and with gifted and imaginative facilitators, explore and experiment with diverse visual and narrative activist research methods and unpick resources that have used imagination and afrofuturist approaches to research and co-develop evidence-based social impact projects, like: 

· Community-Centered Clinics: Designing clinics that integrate ancestral healing practices with modern medicine, creating culturally affirming spaces for Black communities.

· Futuristic Learning Environments: Using speculative design to create classrooms and learning hubs that support experiential learning, critical thinking, and empowerment for structurally marginalized students.

· Restorative Justice Models: Designing systems rooted in community-based conflict resolution, focusing on healing and systemic accountability rather than punitive measures.

· Community-Led Conservation: Incorporating Indigenous and ancestral practices into climate adaptation strategies while building resilience in historically underserved communities disproportionately impacted by environmental injustices.

In our final Research Design for Social Impact session, participants reflect on how research can drive structural change, using tools like speculative scenario mapping and storytelling to chart rebellious paths for MERL practices. Drawing on Afrofuturist principles, they co-create a manifesto for equity-centered, future-oriented approaches to social impact—a commitment to dreaming and designing liberatory futures grounded in collective action and radical hope.

We do this because we believe that by integrating imaginative thinking within MERL practices, we can:

Expand metrics to measure transformative potential and systemic impact, centre possibilities, focusing on what could be rather than what is and co-create futures by engaging people in designing evaluation frameworks that reflect their lived realities.

Some Practical Steps to Integrate lessons from Afrofuturism and Imagination in MERL practices

1. Redesign Tools: Develop participatory tools incorporating speculative, visual, somatic, and narrative methodologies.
2. Training : Join our upcoming Research Design for Social Impact course and community to collaborate practitioners engaging with imaginative and intersectional approaches ( We offer parity payment- so location adjusted pricing to ensure that our courses are affordable to those who want to participate)
3. Challenge Power Dynamics: Shift power in the MERL process by prioritizing the voices of structurally marginalized communities as knowledge producers and evaluators.
4. Bridge Theory and Practice: Read up and combine anti-oppressive theoretical frameworks like Afrofuturism with practical, context-specific methodologies.

Our hope is that if more organisations and practitioners explored these areas, in 2025, we'll see more:

•Practitioners and academia centre equity in programmes and research design

• Organisations reorient and redesign programmes, systems and structures.

•People with lived experience are key decision makers and knowledge producers in community-led development initiatives

Want to learn more?

Visit our website www.designforsocialimpact.io to learn more about our work to explore potential partnerships.

Join our new Research Design for Social Impact community of practice on Linkedin where you can connect with other equity-centred practitioners.

Recommended Resources 

Gesturing Towards Decolonial Futures: https://decolonialfutures.net/gtdf-decks-of-cards/

Collective Imagination Toolkit: https://www.collectiveimagination.tools/

Robin D.G. Kelley, Freedom Dreams book review https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/twenty-years-of-freedom-dreams/