Principles and practice standards

The SDG Impact Standards for Private Equity Funds provide a decision-making framework for integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into one or more funds.

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.

The SDG Impact Standards for Bond Issuers are practice standards that provide a common language and a system for integrating sustainable development issues, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and impact management practices into business and investment decision-making.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

• Implement: The standards are designed to transform how enterprises and investors think about value creation, and integrate impact management and contributing positively to the SDGs.

Standard and guidance on how to apply the fourth of SVI’s Social Value Principles.

Use this resource to:

• Measure, assess and value: Follow the guidance to determine whether an impact is significant to people or the environment, requiring management.

Standard and guidance on how to apply the third of SVI’s Social Value Principles.

Use this resource to:

• Measure, assess and value: Use the guidance to value impacts from the perspective of affected stakeholders. This standard emphasises the importance of using data collected directly from stakeholders.

Standard and guidance on how to apply the second of SVI’s Social Value Principles.

Use this resource to:

• Measure, assess and value: Engage with stakeholders to collaboratively agree on which outcomes to measure. This practice standard contains guidance on how an organisation can examine ‘chains of events’ and engage with stakeholders to decide the most appropriate point of measurement to support management decision-making (framed as ‘well-defined’ outcomes).

Forthcoming: Standard and guidance on how to apply the second of SVI’s Social Value Principles.

Use this resource to:

• Measure, assess and value: Design custom metrics. This practice standard builds on Part 1, which outlines how to design custom metrics to measure a ‘well-defined’ outcome.

The Principles of Social Value guide organisations in considering social value in decision-making, aiming to optimise value for all stakeholders materially affected by their activities. The practice standards help organisations to implement each principle to a point where they are accountable for their activities.

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.

Standard and guidance on how to apply the first of SVI’s Social Value Principles.

Use this resource to:

• Identify: Use the guidance on identifying stakeholders and engaging with them to understand actual and potential significant impacts.
• Set targets and plan: Use the guidance on identifying stakeholders, engaging with them, and collecting information to help shape strategy and objectives.

The Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises are a set of voluntary principles and standards that promote responsible business conduct among multinational enterprises (MNEs). They cover various areas, including human rights, labour relations, environmental protection, anti-corruption and consumer protection, aiming to help MNEs align their business practices with societal expectations, and contribute to sustainable development.

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.

The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact list how organisations should, at a minimum, meet fundamental responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. They apply across all geographies in which the enterprise operates, and assert that good practices in one business area do not offset harm in another. They draw on several international declarations and other authoritative documents.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

• Strategy: Align strategy with the Ten Principles to prioritise societal needs such as the SDGs.