Introduction

In an era of increasing demand for accountability and demonstrable impact, Social Return on Investment (SROI) has emerged as a powerful methodology for organizations to quantify and communicate the broader social, environmental, and economic value they create. Moving beyond traditional financial metrics, SROI provides a comprehensive framework to understand and measure the holistic outcomes generated by programs, initiatives, or organizations, assigning a monetary value to these non-market outcomes. This allows stakeholders – including funders, policymakers, and the public – to grasp the full extent of the societal benefits derived from investments, thereby strengthening the case for continued support and guiding strategic decision-making. Without a robust methodology like Social Return on Investment (SROI), the profound and multifaceted positive changes driven by social programs often remain undervalued, making it challenging to secure necessary resources and effectively articulate their true societal worth. This essential training course focuses on equipping professionals with the expertise to master Social Return on Investment (SROI).

This intensive training course is meticulously designed to empower professionals from non-profit organizations, social enterprises, government agencies, and corporate social responsibility departments with the theoretical understanding and hands-on practical tools necessary to conduct and interpret SROI analyses. Participants will gain a deep understanding of the SROI framework, explore various methodologies for identifying and valuing outcomes, learn about stakeholder engagement in the SROI process, and acquire skills in data collection, financial proxy selection, and impact reporting. The course will delve into topics such as impact mapping, theory of change, deadweight, attribution, displacement, drop-off, and communicating SROI findings effectively. By mastering the principles and practical application of Social Return on Investment (SROI), participants will be prepared to robustly measure their social impact, enhance their organization's credibility, attract new funding, and make more informed decisions to maximize their societal value.

Duration: 5 Days

Target Audience

• M&E Specialists and Officers
• Program Managers and Coordinators
• Social Entrepreneurs and Impact Investors
• Grant Managers and Fundraising Professionals
• Policy Analysts and Government Officials
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Practitioners
• Non-profit Executive Directors and Senior Management
• Researchers and Academics in social impact.
• Consultants in impact measurement and evaluation.
• Anyone seeking to quantify and communicate social value.

Objectives

• Understand the core principles and methodology of Social Return on Investment (SROI).
• Learn to develop a clear Theory of Change as the foundation for SROI analysis.
• Acquire skills in identifying and engaging key stakeholders in the SROI process.
• Comprehend techniques for mapping outcomes and indicators for social impact.
• Explore strategies for valuing social outcomes using financial proxies.
• Understand the importance of addressing deadweight, attribution, displacement, and drop-off.
• Gain insights into collecting and analyzing data for an SROI calculation.
• Develop a practical understanding of reporting and communicating SROI findings effectively.

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to Social Return on Investment (SROI)

• What is SROI? Its purpose, principles, and benefits.
• Differentiating SROI from traditional financial analysis and other impact measurement methods.
• Why SROI is crucial for demonstrating value in the social sector.
• Overview of the SROI framework and its stages.
• Case studies and examples of SROI in various sectors.

Module 2: Building the Foundation: Theory of Change

• Understanding the importance of a clear Theory of Change (ToC) for SROI.
• Developing a robust ToC: inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, impact.
• Identifying short-term, medium-term, and long-term outcomes.
• Logic models vs. Theory of Change.
• Practical exercises in mapping a program's ToC.

Module 3: Stakeholder Engagement and Outcome Identification

• Identifying and engaging key stakeholders in the SROI process.
• The importance of involving stakeholders in defining outcomes.
• Techniques for gathering stakeholder perspectives on experienced changes.
• Confirming the significance and relevance of identified outcomes.
• Ethical considerations in stakeholder engagement for SROI.

Module 4: Mapping Outcomes and Indicators

• Translating stakeholder experiences into measurable outcomes.
• Developing clear and specific outcome indicators.
• Baselines and targets for each outcome.
• The difference between outputs, outcomes, and impact in SROI.
• Creating an 'impact map' that visualizes the causal links.

Module 5: Valuing Outcomes with Financial Proxies

• Principles of financial proxies: finding a monetary value for social outcomes.
• Different types of financial proxies and sources of data.
• Researching and selecting appropriate proxies: market prices, avoided costs, revealed preferences.
• Dealing with intangible outcomes and non-market values.
• Practical exercises in identifying and justifying financial proxies.

Module 6: Establishing Impact: Deadweight, Attribution, Displacement, Drop-off

• Understanding "deadweight": what would have happened anyway?
• "Attribution": what proportion of the outcome is due to your intervention?
• "Displacement": when activities cause negative outcomes elsewhere.
• "Drop-off": how long outcomes persist after the intervention ends.
• Calculating the net social value by accounting for these factors.

Module 7: Data Collection, Calculation, and Sensitivity Analysis

• Methods for collecting outcome data (surveys, interviews, existing records).
• Tools for organizing and analyzing SROI data.
• Calculating the Social Return on Investment ratio.
• Performing sensitivity analysis to test assumptions and variations in the SROI ratio.
• Using software or spreadsheets for SROI calculations.

Module 8: Reporting, Verification, and Communication

• Structuring and writing a comprehensive SROI report.
• Communicating SROI findings effectively to different audiences (funders, policymakers, public).
• Visualizing SROI results through infographics and dashboards.
• Considerations for SROI assurance and independent verification.
• Integrating SROI into strategic planning and decision-making for ongoing impact.

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 5 working days before commencement of the training.