Implement

The SASB Standards are reporting standards that provide industry-specific disclosure topics and associated metrics for measuring performance across 26 General Issue Categories (or sustainability topics). Management or mismanagement of performance on these sustainability topics may create, preserve or erode value for a typical organisation in a given industry over time.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

• Communicate: Report to providers of financial capital on sustainability topics that are likely to affect how value is created, sustained or eroded for the organisation over the short-, medium- and long-term.

The SDG Action Manager is a digital tool designed to help organisations measure their impact across various sustainability areas, set goals aligned with the SDGs, and track progress over time. The questionnaire, which draws from B Lab’s B Impact Assessment and the UN Global Compact’s 10 Principles, enables organisations to collect performance information on the SDGs that are most relevant to manage, based on its size, sector and geography. It was developed through research and public consultation and so provides an evidence-based starting point for identifying sustainability topics to measure.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

• Governance: Prioritise governance mechanisms that address the organisation’s key sustainability risks and enhance its resilience against potential challenges.
• Identify: Understand the most relevant SDGs to manage based on the organisation’s size, sector, and geography.
• Measure, assess and value: Obtain a set of metrics.
• Set targets and plan: Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) targets related to sustainable development. Organisations can align their targets with the specific indicators and targets outlined in the SDGs.

This handbook assists impact investors with integrating their impact considerations into their investment practices. It provides practical strategies, tools and case studies to help investors align their financial goals with positive social and environmental outcomes. The handbook covers various aspects of impact investing, including impact measurement, due diligence, portfolio management, and stakeholder engagement.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

• Implement: Execute the strategies outlined in the handbook to integrate impact considerations into investment processes and decision-making. This involves incorporating impact metrics and assessment methodologies into investment analysis, due diligence and portfolio management practices.

The SDG Impact Assurance Scheme is an assurance criteria for demonstrating adherence to the SDG Impact Standards for Enterprises, Private Equity Funds or Bonds, and associated certification.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

• Verification, assurance & certification: Certify that an organisation’s systems and processes adhere to the SDG Impact Standards.

The GIIN Operating Principles for Impact Management provide a framework for investors and fund managers to manage and measure their impact. The principles outline best practices for impact management across the investment lifecycle, from strategy development to implementation, monitoring and reporting.

This is a cross-cutting resource, meaning that it supports the internal impact management process as a whole, rather than one or a few of the Actions of Impact Management.

Guidance on constructing due diligence questions based on the investor’s impact goals.

Use this resource to:

• Implement: Integrate impact measurement and management into the due diligence process to aid in assessing and managing impact risk.

The Investment Classification is a framework for investors to classify the types of impact occuring in their portfolios. It uses “impact classes” to classify an investment – or portfolio of investments – based on the impact of underlying assets (A, B or C) and the investor’s own contribution.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

• Implement: Connect high-level intentions – which are what most enterprises and investors start with – to the more granular dimensions of impact and data categories, as a way to help to measure and manage impact.

The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) are a voluntary and aspirational set of investment principles that offer a selection of possible actions for investors to incorporate sustainability topics into their investment practices.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

• Strategy: Commit to considering environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities in investment decisions, and to working with other industry participants to do the same.
• Governance: Adopt active ownership, and integrate sustainability topics into policies and governance practices.

The CFO Principles on Integrated SDG Investments and Finance guide companies in aligning their sustainability commitments with credible corporate finance strategies geared towards contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

• Implement: Integrate impact management and SDG contribution into the organisation’s corporate finance function.

The Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) guide banks in aligning their business strategies with society’s goals, as well as promoting sustainability. These principles aim to encourage banks to play a crucial role in achieving global sustainable development objectives, including addressing climate change, promoting financial inclusion and fostering sustainable economic growth.

This is a cross-cutting resource, meaning that it supports the internal impact management process as a whole, rather than one or a few of the Actions of Impact Management.