Introduction

For mission-driven organizations like Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs), financial viability is only one part of the equation; demonstrating meaningful social value is equally, if not more, critical. Social Performance and Impact Measurement provides the essential tools and frameworks to systematically assess and articulate the positive changes a SACCO creates in the lives of its members and the wider community. While financial metrics reveal profitability and efficiency, they often fail to capture the nuances of poverty reduction, empowerment, gender equality, and improved livelihoods that are at the core of a SACCO's social mission. By rigorously measuring their social performance, SACCOs can validate their impact, attract impact-oriented investors and partners, improve program design, and ensure accountability to their members and stakeholders. Without a structured approach to Social Performance and Impact Measurement, these vital institutions risk understating their true value, struggling to differentiate themselves, and missing opportunities to optimize their social mission, underscoring the vital need for specialized expertise in this critical domain. This comprehensive training course focuses on equipping professionals with the expertise to master Social Performance and Impact Measurement.

This training course is meticulously designed to empower SACCO management, social performance officers, program managers, impact assessment specialists, M&E teams, and board members with the theoretical understanding and practical skills necessary to develop, implement, and report on Social Performance and Impact Measurement frameworks. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of leading social performance standards and indicators, learn about various impact measurement methodologies, explore best practices in data collection and analysis, and acquire hands-on experience in constructing Theories of Change and developing compelling impact narratives. The course will delve into topics such as defining social mission and objectives, stakeholder engagement, developing social performance indicators, collecting quantitative and qualitative impact data, Social Return on Investment (SROI), ethical considerations in data collection, and the crucial aspects of communicating impact effectively to diverse audiences. By mastering the principles and practical application of Social Performance and Impact Measurement, participants will be prepared to enhance their SACCO's social accountability, optimize program effectiveness, attract responsible capital, and contribute significantly to sustainable development and the well-being of their communities.

Duration: 5 Days

Target Audience

• SACCO Managers and CEOs
• Social Performance Officers
• Impact Assessment and Evaluation Specialists
• Program and Project Managers
• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Teams
• Strategic Planning Committee Members
• Board Members
• Communication and Reporting Specialists
• Risk Managers (for social risk)
• Consultants working with financial cooperatives

Objectives

• Understand the fundamental concepts of social performance and impact measurement.
• Learn to articulate a clear social mission and translate it into measurable objectives.
• Acquire skills in identifying and developing relevant social performance indicators.
• Comprehend techniques for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting social impact data.
• Explore strategies for designing and applying a Theory of Change for SACCO initiatives.
• Understand the importance of stakeholder engagement in impact measurement.
• Gain insights into different impact measurement methodologies (e.g., SROI, Lean Data).
• Develop a practical understanding of reporting social impact to various audiences effectively.

Course Content

Module 1: Foundations of Social Performance and Impact Measurement

• Defining social performance vs. financial performance.
• Understanding social impact and its importance for SACCOs.
• The cooperative principles and their link to social mission.
• Global trends in social impact investing and responsible finance.
• Overview of common social performance standards and frameworks (e.g., Universal Standards for SPM).

Module 2: Defining Social Mission and Theory of Change

• Articulating a clear and measurable social mission for the SACCO.
• Developing a Theory of Change (ToC): understanding pathways from activities to outcomes and impact.
• Identifying key assumptions in the ToC.
• Logic models vs. Theory of Change.
• Using ToC for program design and evaluation.

Module 3: Identifying and Developing Social Performance Indicators

• Types of indicators: input, output, outcome, impact.
• Characteristics of good social performance indicators (SMART principles adapted).
• Indicators related to outreach to target populations (e.g., gender, poverty levels).
• Indicators related to quality of services (e.g., appropriateness, client satisfaction).
• Indicators related to client well-being and empowerment.

Module 4: Data Collection Methods for Social Impact

• Quantitative data collection techniques: surveys, client registers, transaction data.
• Qualitative data collection methods: interviews, focus group discussions, case studies.
• Ethical considerations in data collection: consent, privacy, confidentiality.
• Tools and technologies for data collection (e.g., mobile surveys, digital platforms).
• Ensuring data quality and reliability.

Module 5: Data Analysis and Interpretation

• Basic statistical analysis for quantitative social data.
• Thematic analysis for qualitative data.
• Combining quantitative and qualitative data for a comprehensive understanding (mixed methods).
• Interpreting results and drawing meaningful conclusions about impact.
• Identifying attribution vs. contribution in impact assessment.

Module 6: Advanced Impact Measurement Methodologies

• Introduction to Social Return on Investment (SROI): concept, principles, steps.
• Overview of other methodologies: Lean Data, randomized controlled trials (RCTs - basic understanding).
• Value for Money (VfM) in social programs.
• Benchmarking social performance against peers.
• The role of external social audits and ratings.

Module 7: Stakeholder Engagement and Learning

• Engaging members in the impact measurement process.
• Communicating findings back to members and staff.
• Using impact data for internal learning and program improvement.
• Engaging donors, investors, and regulators in the social performance journey.
• Fostering a culture of learning and adaptive management.

Module 8: Reporting Social Performance and Communicating Impact

• Developing compelling social performance reports for different audiences.
• Storytelling with data: combining numbers with human narratives.
• Visualizing impact effectively (infographics, dashboards).
• Leveraging digital platforms and social media for impact communication.
• Building credibility and transparency in social impact reporting.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.