An Introduction to Responsible Investment: Policy, Structure and Process

Last updated: 2019

Guidance on how an investor can develop a responsible investment policy.

Use this resource to:

  • Governance: Develop investment policies and incorporate sustainability considerations into the investment process.

Non-Authoritative Guidance on Applying ISAE 300 (Revised) Extended External Reporting (EER) Assurance Engagements

Last updated: 2021

Outlines the key stages of an assurance engagement, expectations of assurance professionals, and common types of information included in Extended External Reporting (EER) assurance engagements. The guidance has been developed to support assurers who are applying the ISAE 3000.

Use this resource to:

  • Verify: This guidance is not aimed at organisations but provides detailed information on issues that arise when assuring EER such as sustainability performance information, which organisations may still find useful.

International Standard on Assurance Engagements 3000 (Revised)

Last updated: 2013

A standard for assurance professionals that covers any assurance engagement other than audits or reviews of historical financial information.

Relevance to Organisations:

  • Verify: Organisations may require that their third-party assurance providers apply this standard to ensure adherence to global best practices.

Impact-Weighted Accounts Initiative Research

Last updated: n/a

Research on impact valuation published in the form of case studies and white papers. Specific illustrative examples are provided for product impact.

For organisations

Use this resource to:

  • Estimate value created: Use research to learn about key considerations when monetising impact, using publicly available information on companies.

For investors and financial institutions

Use this resource to:

  • Assess: Learn about the key considerations when monetising impact, using publicly available information on companies.

Impact-financial integration: a handbook for investors

Last updated: 2020

Guidance on impact-financial integration at the investment and portfolio level, developed by a collaboration of 13 investors. Includes examples.

Use this resource to:

  • Assess: Construct an expected impact rating using sections 1.3 and 2. Use Sections 1.5-1.8 and 3.1-3.2 to integrate impact alongside financial risk and return to inform investment decision-making.

Types of impact risk

Last updated: 2018

Guidance on types of impact risk. The IMP community of 2000+ practitioners identified nine types of impact risk, which are often relevant when managing impact. This content is now hosted by Impact Frontiers.

Use this resource to:

  • Assess: Use the nine types of impact risk as a checklist to identify the most common types are of impact that are considered.

COMPASS: The Methodology for Comparing and Assessing Impact

Last updated: 2021

Guidance that provides an analytical framework to compare impact performance, with a specific focus on variance and the extent of the change required to enable meaningful contribution toward impact.

Use this resource to:

  • Assess: Normalise measures of impact so that impact performance can be compared. This resource can also be used to determine how meaningful the contribution of the investor is.

Operating Principles for Impact Management

Principles describe essential features of managing investments into companies or other organisations with the intent to contribute to measurable positive social or environmental impact alongside financial returns.

This resource has mandatory requirements for signatories.

Use this resource to:

  • Strategy: Define strategic impact objectives consistent with the investment strategy alongside managing strategic impact on a portfolio basis.
  • Governance: Commit to following the principles and periodically having progress of adoption independently verified. The Principles can be applied to an entire investing organisation or an individual fund.
  • Monitor: Use criteria for which investor’s impact management practices can be monitored. The principles require these disclosures to be independently verified.
  • Disclose: Use Principle 9 to enable public disclosure of alignment with the Principles.

IRIS+ for Impact Due Diligence

Last updated: 2020

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

Use this resource to:

  • Identify: Use for impact due diligence, specifically the anticipated impacts before an investment decision.
  • Assess: Integrate impact measurement and management into the due diligence process to aid in assessing and managing impact risk.
  • Monitor: Construct a set of due diligence questions that uses the IRIS+ system and evidence base.

Creating Impact: The Promise of Impact Investing

Last updated: 2019

Guidance on designing impact measurement systems for impact investments selection.

Use this resource to:

  • Assess: Design an impact measurement system for impact investments.