The SROI Network Intl.

SROI in Kenya - What really matters to people experiencing climate change effects?

Choosing the best climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in agriculture can be a challenging task for decision makers and farmers alike. Given the many options available, it is important that scarce resources are used to support measures that are both cost effective and reflect the needs of communities vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

In July, the CGIAR Climate program (CCAFS) joined forces with Oxford University and ViAgroforestry to pilot a new way of identifying community appropriate adaptation and mitigation strategies and determining their associated costs and benefits. The approach is built on a novel cost-benefit framework called Social Return on Investment (SROI).

Please click here to read the full article.

An accompanying slide show with further information can be found here.

New statutory guidance on the Best Value Duty from the Department for Community and Local Government

By Action Sustainability

Central government clarifies how social, economic and environmental value should be considered in service, procurement and commissioning decisions.

New statutory guidance on the Best Value Duty from the Department for Community and Local Government setsout expectations of the way local authorities and other relevant bodies should work with voluntary and community groups and small businesses when facing difficult funding decisions.

For the full article, please click here.

The guidance states that authorities should consider economic, environmental and social value when reviewing service provision. SROI is an approach to understanding and managing these outcomes. Authorities may find that the 7 principles that underpin social return on investment are a useful frame of reference whilst reviewing service provision, procurement and commissioning decisions.

For more information on comissioning an SROI please click here.

To learn more about the 7 principles of SROI, please click here.

 Funders say they are getting stricter on applications

- By Sophie Hudson, Third Sector Online, 14th September 2011

Increasing competition between organisations applying for grants means outcomes will become a more important criterion, funding conference hears.

For the full article, click here.

 "What is the true impact of public spending cuts?"

By John Tizard, Guardian Professional, Monday 19th September 2011

Financial forecasts from the second quarter are anxiously awaited by council leaders and their senior executives, especially in those authorities where the 2011-12 budget was always going to be a challenge to deliver.

Questions are being asked across local government and the wider public sector as the full impact of the severest public expenditure cuts in more than 80 years becomes clear.

To read the full article, please click here.

"Uncovering the Value of Social Housing" - SROI in Australia

By Pro Bono Australia, Monday 19th September 2011

In a first for the Social Return on Investment framework, a new report puts a dollar value on the social benefit created by Australia's 42,000 community houses and units.

Over $176 million worth of social benefit is generated by Australia’s 42,000 community houses and units each year, according to The Social Value of Community Housing in Australia Report .

The Social Value of Community Housing in Australia Report is being billed as the first time that a Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis has been applied across a whole sector, anywhere in the world.

Please click here to read the full article.