Our Theory of Change
How Change Happens at Kowa
At Kowa, we envision a future where First Nations communities are empowered to shape their own destinies. Our Theory of Change is rooted in the belief that amplifying Blak voices in impact measurement and upholding Indigenous Data Sovereignty are key to driving meaningful change. We work towards this vision by connecting people and possibilities, demonstrating best practice in UMEL and Indigenous Data Sovereignty, and accelerating confidence across First Nations Communities to lead UMEL practice. Our digital tool, Wathaga, supports ethical and effective UMEL practices, putting the power of data and evaluation back into the hands of Communities.
Through these efforts, we see Wathaga being readily adopted by First Nations Communities and Ngarray-bah expanding its learning opportunities, sparking important conversations about UMEL and Indigenous Data Sovereignty. Kowa Consulting is forging strong partnerships with Community Organisations, supporting them to evaluate their own impact and advocate for new ways of doing UMEL. Meanwhile, Ngimiliko Kunta is securing diverse funding to ensure the long-term sustainability of impactful programs like Gilibanga.
Ultimately, this leads to a future where Blakfullas confidently use Wathaga to manage and protect UMEL data, ensuring data sovereignty and better decision-making. We see Blakfullas stepping up as leaders in UMEL, advocating for self-determination and decolonising evaluation practices. As more Blakfullas enter the field, we envision a dismantling of the mindsets and actions that perpetuate systemic disadvantage.
