What is Social Impact and ESG?
Social and environmental investment works best when it is managed like any other investment: with a clear objective, a logic for how it will be achieved and indicators that show whether it is being achieved.
We help define the ESG and social investment strategy, build the theory of change for each program and measure and report its impact to partners, boards and communities.
Benká Social Venture leads this practice with its own experience running programs on the ground, which makes it possible to connect corporate strategy with what happens in communities.
The problems clients bring us
Is our social investment connected with the strategy?
Scattered donations and programs that respond to requests rather than a clear priority.
How do we know whether a program works?
Reports on activities and attendees, but no evidence of change in people or the territory.
Which ESG issues are material to us?
Long lists of issues not prioritized according to the business and its stakeholders.
Are partners asking for reports we can’t produce?
Funders, investors and boards that demand indicators and traceability.
How do we engage with communities?
Relationships that depend on individuals rather than on a clear engagement model.
How do we communicate impact without exaggerating?
The risk of claiming results that cannot be demonstrated.
Our approach, applied to Social Impact and ESG
The same four phases of «Our approach», with what we do and what we deliver in each one.
The path of an impact and ESG program
- 01MaterialityCurrent programs, stakeholder consultation and prioritized issues.
- 02Theory of changeFrom inputs to impact, with explicit assumptions and risks.
- 03Indicators and baselineTargets, instruments and the case for adjusting, scaling or closing.
- 04Reporting for partnersBoard dashboards and reports for funders.
We use a problem-solving structure to frame hypotheses.
We review current programs and investment, consult stakeholders and prioritize the issues that are material to the business.
DeliverableMateriality and social investment diagnosisWe break the problem down into a MECE structure.
For each program, the chain is built from inputs to impact, with assumptions and risks made explicit.
DeliverableTheory of changeWe build the business cases and the structure of each initiative.
We define indicators, baseline, targets and measurement instruments, and the case for adjusting, scaling or closing each program.
DeliverableImpact indicatorsWe provide support with a dedicated, full-time on-site team within the organization.
Periodic measurement, board dashboards and reports for partners and funders, with learnings for the next cycle.
DeliverableReporting for partners
What does the diagnosis review?
Materiality matrix
- Business impact × Importance to stakeholders
- 01PrioritizeMaterial issues with strategy, targets and reporting.
- 02ManageIssues with plans and follow-up.
- 03MonitorIssues that are reviewed periodically.
- MaterialityThe social, environmental and governance issues that matter most to the business and its stakeholders.
- Social investment strategyPriorities, territories, populations and partners.
- Theory of changeHow each program produces the change it seeks.
- Indicators and measurementBaseline, targets and measurement instruments.
- EngagementCommunities, partners, authorities and funders.
- Reporting and governanceInformation for the board and reporting standards.
How is impact measured?
Each program follows an impact value chain: from the resources invested to the change sought, with indicators at every link.
The impact value chain
- 01Inputs
- 02Activities
- 03Outputs
- 04Outcomes
- 05Impact
- Program learning and adjustment
What stays in your organization
- Theory of change
- The logic of each program, from input to impact, with assumptions and risks.
- Impact indicators
- Indicators with baseline, targets and method of measurement.
- Reporting for partners
- Clear, verifiable reports for boards, partners and funders.
- ESG and social investment strategy
- Material issues, priorities, territories and program portfolio.
- Engagement model
- How and how often the work with communities and partners takes place.
Where do we apply it?
Led by Benká Social Venture, with the rest of the holding when the challenge calls for it.
