Handbook
Track updates
SA HB 204:2022
[Current]Measuring and valuing social impact — Guidance on approach and methodologies
SA HB 204:2022 provides guidance on the measurement and valuation of social impact, which is characterized as the overall effect of an initiative or change on the wellbeing of an individual or group. Sets out a principle-based framework for measuring social impact, including eight principles, and recommends developing an impact thesis and using a scientific method. Intended to help decision makers determine the appropriate choice of measurement approach in the context of decisions they need to make.
Published: 16/12/2022
Pages: 65
Table of contents
Cited references
Content history
Table of contents
Header
About this publication
Preface
Introduction
1 Scope
1.1 Scope
1.2 Purpose
1.3 Target audiences
1.3.1 Five types of decision makers
1.3.2 Resource providers
1.3.3 Practitioners of social impact measurement
1.3.4 Product and service providers
1.3.5 Policymakers and regulators
1.3.6 Individuals and Community Stakeholders
1.4 Definitions
2 The social value measurement ecosystem
2.1 Historical context
2.2 Economic preferences and the rise of financial accounting
2.2.1 General
2.2.2 Gross domestic product (GDP)
2.3 Beyond GDP
2.3.1 A call to action
2.3.2 A prolific response
2.4 Overview of the current social impact ecosystem
2.4.1 General
2.4.2 Management systems
2.4.3 Measurement systems
2.4.4 Valuation systems
2.4.5 Levels of prescription
2.4.6 Inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, impact
2.4.7 Globalization and the beginning of convergence
2.5 Issues and opportunities for social impact measurement
3 Social impact measurement principles
3.1 Principles to inform decision making
3.2 Rigour and integrity for decision making
3.3 Principle 1 — Measure social impact in terms of wellbeing
3.3.1 Description
3.3.2 Rationale
3.3.2.1 Wellbeing is the measure of a good life
3.3.2.2 Wellbeing informs a systemic approach to solving social issues, providing the off ramp to disadvantage
3.3.3 Application guidance
3.4 Principle 2 — Use subjective wellbeing as the overall measure of impact
3.4.1 Description
3.4.2 Rationale
3.4.2.1 Limitations of list and index-based approaches
3.4.2.2 Subjective wellbeing respects individual sovereignty
3.4.2.3 Informs where to direct resources for the greatest impact
3.4.2.4 Unintended consequences
3.4.3 Application guidance
3.5 Principle 3 — Measure the lived experience
3.5.1 Description
3.5.2 Rationale
3.5.2.1 Measure outcomes to understand the drivers of subjective wellbeing
3.5.2.2 Embrace the complexity of social systems and people’s lives
3.5.2.3 Recognize existing power dynamics
3.5.3 Application guidance
3.6 Principle 4 — Practice cultural safety
3.6.1 Description
3.6.2 Rationale
3.6.2.1 Be cognisant of dominant cultural values
3.6.2.2 Take a participatory approach
3.6.2.3 Create the conditions for cultural safety
3.6.3 Application guidance
3.7 Principle 5 — Measurement results should be actionable
3.7.1 Description
3.7.2 Rationale
3.7.3 Application guidance
3.8 Principle 6 — Measurement results should be comparable
3.8.1 Description
3.8.2 Rationale
3.8.3 Application guidance
3.9 Principle 7 — Measurement should be assurable
3.9.1 Description
3.9.2 Rationale
3.9.2.1 Bias
3.9.2.2 Repeatability
3.9.3 Application guidance
3.10 Principle 8 — Social impact measurement is a scientific pursuit
3.10.1 Description
3.10.2 Rationale
3.10.3 Application guidance
4 Social impact measurement
4.1 General
4.2 The scientific method
4.2.1 Description
4.2.2 Application to social impact measurement
4.3 The Impact Thesis
4.3.1 Overview
4.3.2 Impact
4.3.3 Outcomes
4.3.4 Outputs
4.3.5 Activities
4.3.6 Resources
4.4 Impact Thesis development
4.5 Testing the Impact Thesis
4.5.1 General
4.5.2 Evaluation Design
4.5.2.1 Overview
4.5.2.2 Practical considerations
4.5.2.3 Counterfactuals
4.5.2.4 Attribution
4.5.2.5 Sampling
4.6 Data collection, storage, sharing and use
4.7 Analysis
4.7.1 General
4.7.2 Conclusions
4.8 Ethical considerations
4.8.1 General
4.8.2 Aim to improve wellbeing
4.8.3 Respect the individual
4.8.4 Obtain informed consent
4.8.5 Maintain privacy and confidentiality
4.8.6 Provide ethical assurance
5 Social impact valuation
5.1 General
5.2 Purpose of social impact valuation
5.3 Approaches to social impact valuation
5.3.1 General
5.3.2 Monetisation
5.3.3 Non-monetisation
5.4 The components of social value
5.4.1 General
5.4.2 Social impact
5.4.3 Need
5.4.4 Reach
5.4.5 Contribution
5.5 Measuring and calculating social value
Appendix A
A.1 Overview
A.2 Assessment framework
A.2.1 Use cases
A.2.1.1 Local optimization
A.2.1.2 Program optimization
A.2.1.3 Portfolio optimization
A.2.1.4 Community development
A.2.1.5 Case management
A.2.1.6 Proof of impact
A.2.1.7 Hybrid use cases
A.2.2 Maturity levels for each principle
A.2.3 Best practice mapping of maturity levels to use cases
A.2.3.1 General
A.2.3.2 Local optimization
A.2.3.3 Program optimization
A.2.3.4 Portfolio optimization
A.2.3.5 Community development
A.2.3.6 Case management
A.2.3.7 Proof of impact
A.2.3.8 Hybrid use cases
Bibliography
Cited references in this standard
Content history
DR SA HB 204:2021
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