Observing and recording campaign activities

Attendance registers are useful in activities that involve limited numbers of participants, to keep track of whether the intended target audience participates in campaign events. Attendance registers should include basic demographic information, e.g. age, sex and place of residence. They can also request contact information from participants, which can be used to inform them about future activities or get them to support certain actions (e.g. sign a petition, take part in a march, etc).
Photographs and video recordings of campaign activities in public spaces can serve as supporting materials during debriefing sessions, and for later joint reflection on campaign activities. Such visual records may also serve as a campaigning tool. Please refer to Video, film, radio under Campaign Communication in this module for guidance on appropriate editing and dissemination of videos.
Activity Reports capture information on specific campaign activities, e.g. lobby meetings with decision makers in advocacy campaigns. In campaigns with a strong community mobilization element, activity reports formalize activists’ commitments. An activity report should include information as to when, where and how the activity was carried out, who participated in what ways (approximate number of women, men, girls and boys and their respective activities), and what successes, challenges and outcomes the campaigners have observed. The SASA! Tip Booklet (Toolkit) by Raising Voices provides detailed guidance on activity reports, including sample forms.
Direct Response Tracking: Some ads used in campaigns ask readers or viewers to give a direct response, or a measurable action, e.g. by calling a toll-free number, sending in a coupon or bounce-back card, visiting a website or clicking on an icon. These responses can be counted and used as an indicator for the reach of the campaign.