Social Return on Investment
Social Return indicators should answer the question, "What can we look at that will show the organization and the funder or investor that the new SBCC product, service or intervention is making a difference in the lives of the target population?" In other words, how has the introduction of the new SBCC product, service or intervention made a positive impact in the health or welfare of the intended users?
There are several types of indicators. Each measures a different phase of an intervention: input, process, output, outcome and impact. Most funders or investors are looking for different types of indicators at different stages of the life cycle of a product, service or intervention.
Types of Indicators
Input: Input indicators describe the financial, technological and human resources invested in a product, service or program. Examples might include staff time, supplies and equipment, funds, or in-kind contributions to an intervention.
Process: Process indicators describe activities carried out to achieve the desired results or objectives of an intervention; they show what is done and how well it is done. Examples of process indicators include training sessions or educational programs prepared and presented to transfer knowledge or skills.
Output: Output indicators describe the results achieved at the program level in which the intervention was delivered, usually observable immediately after the intervention. Such indicators might include the number of people who completed a training course or attended an educational session.
Outcome: Outcome indicators describe changes in behavior among members of the target population as a result of introducing an intervention. These changes are generally observed at least a few months after the intervention. Examples could include the percentage of sexually active adolescents using contraceptives, the number of households using treated bed nets to prevent malaria, or the number of clients requesting voluntary counseling and testing for HIV/AIDS.
Impact: Impact indicators measure changes in the health or socioeconomic condition of the target population that generally occur after several years. Examples include changes in fertility, morbidity or mortality among certain segments of the population. You will not be measuring the impact of your intervention (product or service) at this point. Impact on health or socioeconomic status cannot be attributed to any single intervention. These long-term changes are the result of many factors, some intentional (products, services or programs designed to produce social change) and some beyond the control of any organization or agency (natural disasters, political shifts or global circumstances). Although an intervention may make a significant contribution, it can never be given full credit for these changes.
In measuring social return, input, process and output indicators are often valuable in the early stages following the introduction of the SBCC product, service or intervention. Over time, however, funders or investors will expect to find outcome indicators as the new product, service or intervention takes hold in the target population.
Although it is important for inputs to be in place for the process to be carried out as planned, and for the immediate outputs to be positive, the true value of an investment lies in its outcome. If the introduction of your new product, service or intervention has a positive short- to medium-term outcome--a positive effect on the behaviors of the target audience--it is likely that, in combination with other interventions, it will contribute to long-term impact on health welfare.
Social Return Worksheet
Instructions: Read and complete the following steps.
- Prepare a brief statement stating the Social Objectives that you hope to achieve by introducing the new SBCC product, service or intervention to your organization's target population.
- The Social Objectives provided are merely illustrative and can be changed.
- Select and list the output and outcome indicators that you will use to measure the results achieved, or social return on the investment.