At the OECD, we provide step-by-step guidance on social impact measurement and measurement. We also conduct national and regional reviews to understand how social economy entities are adopting measurement practices and building related capabilities. These insights help identify both strengths and gaps, facilitating targeted and informed interventions and resource allocation.
Social impact measurement for the social economy
Social impact measurement and management can serve as a valuable resource for social economy entities, enabling them to gain deeper insights into how their initiatives contribute to societal progress and refine their strategies to better fulfill their missions. By systematically tracking and analysing the changes that their activities bring about, these entities can align their efforts with the needs of the communities they serve and demonstrate their value to stakeholders. However, measuring impact in critical areas such as economic prosperity, social inclusion, and community well-being presents significant challenges due to their inherently qualitative and multifaceted nature. Existing methodologies, often designed with funders and for-profit organisations in mind, focus on financial returns or easily quantifiable metrics, leaving the nuanced priorities of the social economy underserved. To better align for impact, social economy entities can develop tailored approaches that better capture their broader societal contributions and harness data to drive meaningful and transformative change.
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Latest events
15 April 2024 | WEBINAR
Measure, manage and maximise your impact: A dialogue with the social economy
Social impact measurement and management is a particularly helpful practice for social economy entities to understand their contribution to society and achieve their mission. Impact areas that are especially important for the social economy, such as social inclusion, well-being and community development, are often difficult to quantify. “Measure, manage and maximise your impact: A guide for the social economy” has been developed by the OECD and the European Commission to offer a clear roadmap to accompany social economy entities along their impact journey.
On 15 April we launched the guide and discussed with social economy and representatives what they do to measure and manage their social impact.
Watch the replay
21 March 2023 | HYBRID SESSION
Session 7: Visible, valuable and visionary: Taking stock of the social economy’s impact
This session and report launch were organised as part of the OECD Social Economy Summit: Inspiration, innovation and inclusion: Shaping our future with the social and solidarity economy
With growing acknowledgement for their positive impact, social economy entities are facing more pressure from buyers, funders and donors to collect and present evidence of this impact. Quantitative or qualitative, sometimes beneficial impact cannot be precisely measured and requires a crosscutting evaluative approach. This pressure on social economy entities also drives them to maximise their own social impact by effectively allocating resources, learning from experimentation and increasing stakeholder participation and collaboration. This session highlighted the importance of social impact measurement for the development of the social economy. OECD research on social impact measurement practices across countries has identified the best methodologies to capture the social benefits of the social economy. Speakers discussed the state of social impact measurement, its challenges and potential.
