What do you do if you need to measure social return on investment in your work?

First things first! Let's clarify the scope of our project or initiative. What social outcomes are we aiming to achieve, and for whom? Defining our scope sets the boundaries for our SROI analysis and ensures we focus on what truly matters.

In remote regions like the Himalayas, where opportunities are limited and many youth migrate for better prospects, our scope is to create sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment. By offering legitimate work opportunities and access to quality products, we aim to break the taboo of urban migration and foster local development.

In my experience, the first step is to find your calling. If you have figured out the same define the scope by just keeping an eye on your end goal. All the actions should be taken to achieve your end goal. Don’t look for numbers to achieve Try to build an ecosystem which can grow or atleast grow with sustainability

Before measuring Social Return on Investment (SROI), it is essential to define the scope of the analysis. This involves clarifying the activities, outcomes, and stakeholders to be included, as well as deciding on the purpose, audience, and timeframe of the SROI report. The scope should clearly outline the specific activities, outcomes, and stakeholders to be included in the evaluation. This ensures that the analysis focuses on the intended areas of impact and the relevant stakeholders involved It is important to decide on the purpose of the SROI report, such as assessing the impact of a specific project, program, or organization. Additionally, identifying the audience and their information needs is crucial.

I prefer using “Theory of No Change”, identifying the enablers and road blockers, supporters, silent supporters, opponents, and silent opponents. For me one of the measures to assess my SROI will be to see a reduction in road blockers.

Time to connect the dots! Mapping our theory of change helps us understand how our activities lead to social impacts. Let's identify our inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and the intended social changes. This roadmap guides our SROI analysis.

Our theory of change revolves around empowering local communities with viable employment options and disrupting the narrative that success only lies in big cities. By providing employment and fostering entrepreneurship in tier-3 cities and rural areas, we aim to shift mindsets and catalyze economic growth from within.

Alongside what others have said, don't forget to also map your assumptions, contextual factors, and stakeholders in a Theory of Change. Use dashed or dotted lines to make indirect connections between levels and thicker lines for direct connections. Make sure it's co-designed with everyone on your teams, and your communities. During monitoring meetings, revisit the TOC to update anything and test assumptions. You'll then be able to test the relevance of various resources you're investing in your project, and identify what continues to work and what doesn't - even more important in longer projects (more than a year)

In my opinion bring smaller changes and keep doing fine tuning without disrupting the process. Sometimes the disruption can be more damaging than the problem itself. Also have patience as this may take longer time to see desired results.

While calculating SROI, please also take into consideration the accrued social capital that is the return one will receive in future.

Crunch time! Now that we have our data, let's calculate the SROI ratio. We'll compare the social value created to the investment made. By quantifying both inputs and outcomes, we can gauge the effectiveness of our work in generating social returns.

To calculate SROI, we quantify the economic and social value generated by our initiatives. In our case, this includes assigning monetary values to outcomes like reduced migration rates and increased employment. We account for factors unique to rural settings, such as attribution of impact and the displacement effect of retaining talent in their local communities.

According to my learning, don’t calculate the SROI in terms of numbers. See how many lives can be changed in reality and avoid impressing others using numbers.

I will add use of MEAL techniques: monitoring, Evaluation, and learning. This leads to course correction and the cycle should be repeated to refine our interventions while maximising the profit.

I will add use of MEAL techniques: monitoring, Evaluation, and learning. This leads to course correction and the cycle should be repeated to refine our interventions while maximising the profit.

Double-checking our work! Before sharing our findings, let's ensure the accuracy and reliability of our calculations. Then, let's craft a clear and compelling report that highlights our methodology, key findings, and implications. Transparency is key!

Our approach to SROI measurement relies on building trust and transparency. We validate our results through stakeholder engagement, testimonials, and impact assessments. Reporting on SROI helps demonstrate the effectiveness of our strategies in generating meaningful change.

Harnessing the power of technology! There are plenty of online tools and resources available to simplify the SROI process. From calculators to case studies, let's leverage these resources to streamline our analysis and learn from best practices.

Leveraging online tools and resources streamlines SROI calculations and reporting. Digital platforms offer accessible methods to track impact metrics, engage stakeholders, and visualize outcomes. This accessibility is particularly vital in regions where physical access to resources may be limited.

Beyond the numbers, let's consider the qualitative aspects of our impact. Are there stories, testimonials, or qualitative data that complement our quantitative analysis? Also, let's engage stakeholders throughout the process to ensure relevance and buy-in.

Taking the time to analyse results from projects you're involved in is invaluable. You can use this information to: → Leverage your position when asking for a promotion → Be an outstanding candidate when applying to new jobs → Build your personal brand online Showcasing how you have contributed to positive environmental and social impact will help you progress in your career quicker!