Start with a learning question
Before choosing a metric, ask what decision the information will support. A count of participants can describe reach, but it cannot tell you whether a process became fairer or whether people could influence an outcome.
Protect the people behind the information
Collect only what is needed. Explain why information is being requested and how it will be used. Small groups can be identifiable even when names are removed, so consider reporting thresholds and avoid unnecessary breakdowns.
Combine evidence and interpretation
Use process changes, voluntary feedback, and carefully chosen measures together. Discuss what the evidence cannot tell you. Progress is easier to act on when a team can connect a result to a decision and explain what it will change next.