Our final proposals

In the frame of the “Global Action for SSE ecosystems” from the OECD, French Impact led a global consortium of 18 actors, from 9 different countries around the world.

Our goal is to work on how to use the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to progress on social impact measurement. We seek to contribute to the emergence of a common vocabulary and best practices to help social entrepreneurs to attract more investors – public and private – by using the SDGs as a common reference frame.

Findings in video

Discover our key recommandations

Clear and proved methodology

that could allow to keep tailored KPIs and achieve common communication tools. KPIs must remain local and adapted to the context.

Training and resources remain the key factor for success

as well as involving every stakeholder of the SSE to use the SDG framework.

Commitment from policy makers

necessary to get their democratization.

Stronger involvement of investors

to change actual practices and involve social entrepreneurs.

Our PLP’s research brought us to the conclusion that SDGs are the right tool to build a common ground and facilitate the discussion between actors. In that respect, training and resources remain a key factor of success.

We found it critical to involve governments, foundations, and grant makers if we want SSE organizations to use this common language.Those providing capital could make the use of the SDGs for social impact assessment a requirement. We could incentivize SSE organizations to use the framework by conditioning funding to the report of SIM using the standard.

The consortium also came to the conclusion that beyond the use of SDGs as a communications and marketing tool, the SDGs could help investors with their decisions throughout the investment process. SDGs could contribute to simplify the criteria and better define the perimeter of action. Investors could help SSE organizations by giving them the financial and/or material resources to put into practice a common methodology. 

We found that Governments need to boost their public policies in order to make this operational and reach the SDGs. The United Nation Institutes for Social Development (UNISD) has published in 2021 a comprehensive report with guidelines for local government in which SSE capacity building could include: training and education, advisory functions, financing capacity building SIM support for SSE such as coaching, SSE Hubs or incubators…

Using SDGs allows SSE organizations to show their real contribution to a world program, to legitimize their actions and to attract capital. Using SDGs as a common tool should help SSE organizations to boost their visibility, increase their funding and their advocacy role.

In conclusion, SDGs appear as the right tool to build a common ground and facilitate the discussion between actors. It contributes to partnership building among social organizations. Indeed, if a variety of actors share a common vocabulary, it facilitates the clarity of communications and allows corporations between stakeholders.