IMPACT AT SCALE

Development work is hard. Making change happen at scale is complex and there is not a linear path. Yet, achieving impact at scale is a goal many grantmakers, philanthropists, social and impact investors aim for – but this goal is not often nor easily achieved.Of course, we must also recognize that the ability to make impact in any particular focus …

Hands holding a note that says ROI

Social value and return on investment

Lets talk about social return on investmentGrantmakers, donors and philanthropists want nothing else, but to make an impact with their investments.  So do companies, foundations and trusts.  And – if you are a more commercially inclined social investor – there is still massive return on investment to be made from doing good. However, social return on investment it is a …

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Social Innovation to Drive Shared Value

Social innovation is becoming a buzzword which is discussed around the world. There’s a surge in attention and government support for social development and social innovation, because it’s seen to be providing effective ways for addressing societal challenges and possible pathways towards more sustainable, inclusive and resilient societies.Today’s global challenges in line with the Sustainable Development Goals – from climate …

Understanding the concept and value of social innovation

The term social innovation has been used in a number of ways. Some of the earliest references, dating back to the 1960s, use it to refer to experimental research in the social sciences and humanities. Since then, the term has been used in reference to social enterprise and social entrepreneurship, technological innovations which yield social benefits, corporate social responsibility and …

Social capital – its value and how to measure it

The newly revisited concept of social capital is now prominent in several fields of social science. For Next Generation Consultants, the concept became important with the introduction of the integrated reporting framework that requires companies and organisations to report on how their activities either contribute to or diminish capital formation. The International Integrated Reporting Council’s guidance suggests that a company’s …

The value and importance of socio-economic research and baseline studies in social investment and development practices

Definition: Socio-economics is the study of the relationship between economic activity and social life. In many cases, however, socio-economists focus on the social impact of a specific kind of economic change. Such changes might include displacement of people due to a closing factory, village-to-city migration, market manipulation and even the signing of trade treaties, etc. Value: The goal of a socio-economic study …

Social innovation: Contributor and driver of future value and capital

Even today, many development practitioners find it hard to prove the value (and the business case for that matter) that social and community development delivers and contributes to the future sustainability of a business. However, because we have proved through impact assessments that measure both the impact (on beneficiaries and investment portfolios or themes) and return on investment for the …