The 10th event of the Vienna Evaluation Network took place on Monday, June 17, 2019, 4-5.30 pm.
Topic: Social impact evaluation: Measuring the social impact of alternative child care and family strengthening services
by guest speaker Rosalind Willi (SOS Children’s Villages)
View or download the slides (PDF): Willi_SocialImpactEvaluation_VENSlides_17Jun2019
The session started with a presentation of how SOS Children’s Villages measures social impact. Until 2014, SOS Children’s Villages International lacked a rigorous and systematic approach to gauging long-term impact. With this in mind, the organisation developed a social impact assessment methodology, in order to measure the long-term effects of its services on children, their families and communities and the financial impact on society (social return on investment). The assessments evaluate the two main services of SOS Children’s Villages for children who have lost or are at risk of losing parental care, these being family strengthening and alternative child care. The assessments are carried out by external independent researchers, and information is gleaned from interviews and focus group discussions with former programme participants, programme staff and community stakeholders. These are complemented by desk research and case stories. The determination of long-term financial impact on society is carried out through a social return on investment (SROI) calculation which compares the costs and benefits of the services. The results are used to improve service quality, strengthen accountability and are regularly consolidated on a global level to inform the research agenda as well as policy and strategy development. Key results from 15 social impact assessments carried out across the world will also be presented.
The meeting participants had the opportunity to discuss challenges related to measuring social impact, social return on investment and other key issues in small groups.
Rosalind Willi is Research and Learning Advisor in the Research and Learning team of SOS Children’s Villages International. SOS Children’s Villages International comprises 118 national SOS Children’s Villages associations, which are active in 136 countries and territories worldwide. The organisation mainly provides alternative child care and family strengthening services.
Within the Research and Learning team, Rosalind Willi furthers the global research agenda of the organisation, working with other teams to produce high-quality research, providing advice and technical resources, conducting, coordinating and commissioning research, and supporting with the communication of findings so they are best placed to inform effective practice. Her main focus are social impact assessments and evaluations, and she regularly analyses and consolidates the findings of social impact assessments globally to inform strategy, policy and practice – most recently, in a global report published on the 25th of April 2019. Rosalind Willi, based in Vienna, is also a certified results-based management trainer, and regularly trains Member Associations across the globe. She has been working in the sector for 10 years.
She holds two Masters degrees, one in Social and Cultural Anthropology, and one in Spanish and French language studies.
VEN events generally start with a presentation by the guest speaker. Thereafter, the participants have time to ask questions, discuss the topic, and exchange experiences, followed by informal networking and conversations.
WHEN: June 17, 2019, 4-5.30 pm
WHERE: The venue is Berggasse 17, the third-floor conference room of the European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research. Please cross the courtyard to find the entrance left in front of you.