Report Assurance Standard

Last updated: 2018

Report Assurance standard that provides criteria to assess the application of SVI’s Social Value Principles as evidenced in a report. Assurance is conducted acting in the interests of the affected stakeholders, an important distinction versus other assurance standards that are currently available.

Use this resource to:

  • Assure a report that has been prepared in accordance with the Principles of Social Value. The Principles of Social Value and associated practice standards help organisations measure and manage the social value generated through their business activities. This means the assurance standard is best applied to a report that has been prepared in accordance with the principles from the outset. The assurance standard is used to assess application of the principles, it does not assure accuracy of performance information.

Social Value Management Certificate

Last updated: 2021

This certification process assesses to what extent the Principles of Social Value are embedded in an organisation’s systems and processes. The certificate has three levels that set out a progression pathway for organisations looking to continuously improve how they optimise social value for their stakeholders.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

  • Verification, assurance and certification: Certify that an organisation’s systems and processes adhere to the Principles of Social Value.

Corporate Impact Analysis Tool

Last updated: 2023

The Corporate Impact Analysis Tool helps banks and investors understand the actual and potential impacts of their clients and investee companies, as part of their impact management strategy and processes.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

  • Implement: Banks and investors can use the Tool’s findings to carry out portfolio management and client engagement. Additionally, the Tool can be used by enterprises themselves to integrate impact management into their own strategic planning and business development practices.

Portfolio Impact Analysis Tool for Banks

Last updated: 2023

This tool is designed to help banks and investors holistically understand and manage the actual and potential impacts of their portfolios.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

  • Identify: Understand the impact areas and topics associated with a bank’s portfolio, based on portfolio composition and context; and identify the bank’s most significant impact areas.
  • Measure, assess and value: Assess current practice and performance vis-à-vis most significant impact areas, by combining the tool’s ‘Identification’ outputs with additional data; use the assessment as a basis for target-setting and defining the bank’s action plan.
  • Set targets and plan: Define relevant and meaningful targets and action plans.
  • Implement: Inform and carry out impact management process.
  • Monitor, learn and adapt: Monitor practice and performance; and use the assessment to make improvements and adjust targets.

Impact Management Norms

Last updated: 2018

The Impact Management Norms provide a common logic to help enterprises and investors measure and assess their social and environmental impacts. They aim to promote a consistent approach to impact assessment, enabling organisations to better understand, communicate and improve their impact performance. The Norms comprise – among others – the Five Dimensions of Impact, ABC of Impact and Investor Contribution.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

  • Measure, assess and value: Use the norms to quantify and evaluate the social and environmental impacts of the organisation’s activities.

The Guide to Social Return on Investment (SROI)

Last updated: 2012

This guidance document provides a framework for calculating Social Return on Investment (SROI), which can be used by anyone interested in measuring, managing and accounting for social value or social impact

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

  • Measure, assess and value: Monetise the social value an organisation creates, preserves or erodes for its stakeholders. This methodology guides an organisation through the process of valuing impact from the perspective of all affected stakeholders.

AA1000 Assurance Standard

Last updated: 2020

A set of criteria that demonstrates adherence to AccountAbility’s four principles: inclusivity, materiality, responsiveness and impact. Assurance using this assurance standard can cover an organisation’s practices as well as sustainability performance information.

Use this resource to:

  • Verification, assurance and certification: Assure a report or the organisation’s practices with reference to the AA1000. The subject matter for an assurance engagement is not pre-defined in the AA1000, meaning this assurance standard is commonly used to assure external reports prepared according to other reporting standards.

Standard on Applying Social Value Principle 2: Understand What Changes (Part 1 – Creating Well Defined Outcomes)

Last updated: 2015

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).

Standard on Applying Social Value Principle 2: Understand What Changes (Part 2 – Designing Indicators (Metrics) to Measure the Outcomes)

Last updated: n/a

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.