You have to report your social impact data. What’s the best tool for the job?

Para relatar dados de impacto social, é imprescindível realizar uma escolha da ferramenta correta. Entender os conceitos básicos de relatórios de impacto, que documentam resultados e impactos sociais e ambientais. A ferramenta deve atender às necessidades da organiza??o, com critérios específicos e considera??o de características, experiências e aspectos como facilidade de uso e custo-benefício. Escolher eficazmente para garantir sucesso na comunica??o e medi??o de impacto.

In my experience, being clear about what is an impact -- and on what timeline (long-, medium-term change, or near-term indicator) and what is an output (an activity that your theory of change frames as a lever of impact), is a critical starting point. Then, ask your partners or community to check your POV: does it hold? Then, figure out how you can measure together.

Think about international frameworks like the SDGs or the GRI when choosing a platform for social impact reporting. Your effect data will be consistent and comparable thanks to these frameworks, which offer standardized indicators and reporting criteria. Also, look into programs that let you personalize dashboards and visualization tools. Stakeholder involvement and understanding are enhanced by reports that are visually appealing and easy to read. If you want to share stories that show the human side of your social effect, rather than just numbers, look for platforms that let you do qualitative storytelling.

Ao relatar dados de impacto social, considere ferramentas como GRI Standards, SASB, B Impact Assessment e Tableau. Escolha com base na abrangência, setor específico, foco social e visualiza??o de dados que melhor atenda às necessidades da sua organiza??o. Priorize clareza e autenticidade na comunica??o do seu impacto, além de ter dados organizados para facilitar os processos de análise e divulga??o do impacto gerado.

The first step is to define the purpose of the report. A social impact report can be a strategic tool to inform stakeholders and beneficiaries of the intervention, serving as a process of accountability and transparency regarding the actions taken and their impacts. Furthermore, the report can be a differentiator for retaining existing partners and attracting new partnerships, as well as keeping the beneficiary community mobilized, engaged, with a sense of belonging, and feeling that their needs are acknowledged and their potentials are valued.

Selecting the best tool for a social impact report requires careful consideration of various factors, prioritizing those most relevant to your context. Analyze the types of data you will collect (quantitative, qualitative, etc.), your communication strategy with stakeholders and beneficiaries, considering different profiles and available resources (financial, material, team skills). Review reports from similar interventions and engage in discussions with professionals in the field to ensure the chosen tool aligns with your needs, resources, and capabilities.

If you want your social impact reports to be accurate and up-to-date, I recommend looking into solutions that let you collect data automatically or in real-time. A more efficient method of data aggregation can be achieved through integration with pre-existing data sources, such as platforms for project management or customer relationship management applications. To give a complete picture of your influence across many dimensions, such as economic, social, and environmental, you should seek out solutions that enable multi-dimensional reporting. Your present reporting requirements and the ever-changing social impact sector's impact measurement and reporting standards should be your guiding principles when selecting a reporting platform.

Ao escolher uma ferramenta para relatórios de impacto social, priorize: Tipo de Dados: Garanta que a ferramenta atenda à coleta e relato dos dados necessários. Propósito e Público: Verifique se a ferramenta se alinha aos objetivos do relatório e à audiência pretendida. Recursos e Funcionalidades: Avalie facilidade de uso, confiabilidade, seguran?a, compatibilidade, custos e suporte oferecido. Escalabilidade e Adaptabilidade: Certifique-se de que a ferramenta pode crescer e se adaptar às mudan?as futuras. Esses critérios ajudar?o na escolha da ferramenta mais adequada às suas necessidades.

If you are trying to assess something complex, then you need to make sure that the tool isn't too simple. A lot of tools in this space ask for quantification of things that are delivered. We find it more helpful to be able to use qualitative data, and to build a narrative of how change happens, with associated data. We offer a tool specifically to track complex change where people are the main changemakers. It builds up contribution stories rather than just logging data.

Para relatórios de impacto social, considerando as categorias de planilhas, painéis e plataformas, aqui est?o alguns exemplos: Planilhas: Microsoft Excel Google Sheets Painéis: Tableau Power BI Plataformas: Salesforce Socialsuite Cada categoria possui vantagens e limita??es, escolha com base nas necessidades específicas da sua organiza??o e na capacidade da ferramenta em lidar com a complexidade dos seus dados de impacto social.

I combine data collection tools, data analysis tools, and tools that facilitate communication. For data collection, you can use electronic forms or physical questionnaires. Qualitative approaches may consider agile and participatory methodologies to obtain insights and perceptions. For data analysis, it is important to consider tools that facilitate the integration, processing, and visualization of data. Examples include spreadsheets, business intelligence software, and programming languages. When crafting the visual design of the report, consider a design that resonates with different audiences and utilizes materials in various formats. Examples include design platforms, image and video editing software, and social media platforms.

ESG reporting software has come to market allowing Extract, Transform and Load capabilities across organizational boundaries. Much of the data supporting your organizations environmental and social impact are not internally generated. Which leads organizations to use ETL platforms for the integration. Another novel or innovative idea is found in virtual reality solutions, specifically Dual Cities.

You probably want to make sure that the tool you use really fits the work you do, and can reflect what is important to you. If you want staff to use a tool they need to feel it is helping them do their job, not that they are just 'feeding the machine'.

In my experience, Salesforce is a fantastic platform for tracking social impact data. We use it to track over $60 billion worth of commitments from promise made to implementation and impact. But you have to commit to regularly updating it for it to be of any use. Right now you could ask us about any commitment and we could pull it up and tell you the social return on investment.

ImpactMapper is the only impact reporting tool on the market that allows for a thorough analysis of text data, financial and survey data with visualizations in one place. In addition to software, ImpactMapper also offers consulting for organizations to set up their portfolio and impact metrics, reporting tools and we produce annual impact reports for many clients. Some of the biggest impact changemakers in the world use ImpactMapper, due to our shared values of human and environmental rights and exceptional software and analytic tools, including Malala Fund, Spotlight Initiative, UN Women, DLA Piper, Women's Fund Fiji, Urgent Action Fund-Africa, Porticus, Women Moving Milllions, BEA Fund, Winthrop Rockefeller Fund, MIT, IKEA, to name a few.

At Matter of Focus we have developed an innovative and award winning cloud-based software package called OutNav. It underpins our approach to outcome monitoring and evaluation. It provides a platform to manage your outcome evaluation - a single place to hold your outcome maps and for collecting, collating and analysing data. It has been used by a broad range of organisations who are seeking to describe and evaluate complex people-based change.

For data collection, common tools include Lime Survey, Microsoft Forms, Google Forms, and Survey Monkey. Qualitative approaches often can consider agile and participatory methodologies such as Ethnographic Design and Participatory Diagnosis. Analysis and processing of data are facilitated by tools like Microsoft Excel, Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, and programming languages like Python. To create communication materials, Canva, Visme, and PowerPoint can be leveraged. Tools like image, audio, and video editors can be used for other formats. The produced materials can be shared on social media and in presentations to beneficiaries and stakeholders. Additionally, platforms exist with specific solutions, such as Social Suite and ImpactMapper.

OutNav is a theory of change driven tool for assessing the contribution of any work to the outcomes that are important. It is used for evaluation, quality improvement, research impact tracking, and performance management. It is a platform for organisations who want to understand and track the change they make in the world, and can be a way of pulling together data from other platforms.

Spend some time looking and exploring each tool, and get in touch with clients using it who are most similar to you and the work you want to track.

Dicas para Escolher a Melhor Ferramenta: Defina Necessidades: Avalie os requisitos específicos de coleta e análise de dados. Custo-benefício: Equilibre funcionalidades com custo, garantindo um investimento eficaz. Usabilidade: Escolha ferramentas intuitivas e fáceis de usar para facilitar a implementa??o. Escalabilidade: Opte por ferramentas que possam crescer conforme suas necessidades futuras. Compatibilidade: Verifique se a ferramenta se integra facilmente com sistemas existentes. Suporte e Treinamento: Priorize ferramentas com suporte eficiente e treinamento adequado. Essas diretrizes ajudar?o na escolha da ferramenta mais adequada para relatórios de impacto social. Dúvidas? Estou à disposi??o!

In addition to choosing tools and methodologies adapted to your context and resources (financial, material, and team competencies), it is crucial to align the data collection and communication strategy with the program's objectives and the characteristics of beneficiaries and stakeholders. We believe that a participatory strategy based on collaboration, integration, engagement, and co-creation with stakeholders and beneficiaries, where the latter can be the main generators of innovative ideas for the organization, is essential for interventions to truly produce impacts aligned with the needs and potentials of the beneficiaries, reflected in the collected evidence.

Make sure to add few case stories in order to prove your side of work which is showing positive responses on the field. Case studies and the insights gained from those stories could help you with your report and it can help you formulate a better report.

Participa??o Comunitária: Garanta um processo de coleta de dados bidirecional, envolvendo ativamente as comunidades. Propósito Claro: Questione a raz?o por trás da medi??o, assegurando que os dados beneficiem as comunidades e estejam alinhados aos objetivos reais de impacto social. Adaptabilidade da Ferramenta: Escolha uma ferramenta flexível para se ajustar a mudan?as nas demandas de relatórios e indicadores de impacto. Melhoria Contínua: Valorize ferramentas que facilitem a aprendizagem com os resultados, promovendo aprimoramentos contínuos no desempenho social. Esses pontos s?o essenciais para uma abordagem abrangente e sustentável nos relatórios de impacto social. Dúvidas ou insights adicionais? Estou à disposi??o!