Impact Measurement and Management Seminar
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On October 16th, the NAB partnered with Steward Redqueen to co-host an Impact Measurement and Management Seminar at Triodos IM offices. The event brought together over 60 participants, eager to deepen their understanding of impact measurement and management and to exchange their experiences.
The seminar's speakers included Willem Vosmer (Steward Redqueen), Nikki Yamba-Pelzer, Adam Kybird (Triodos IM), and Suzanne Groen (StartGreen Capital).
The seminar began by addressing a crucial distinction: the difference between genuine impact and impact washing. Real impact, as highlighted by the speakers, is about bringing positive, lasting change — both for people and the planet. It's about embedding impact in the core strategy of an organisation.
The first and most important step as highlighted by one of the presenters is getting the definition of impact investing right. The discussion then moved to developing a good framework with a well-structured Theory of Change (TOC) that can help define and pinpoint what problems need to be solved, along with defining what is the meaning behind achieving a positive impact for your organisation. The presenters collaboratively supported the idea of creating strategies based on a flexible TOC and constant monitoring to stay on track and create impact in the long term.
Investors face a variety of challenges when it comes to impact measurement and management. Some of the key obstacles discussed included:
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Defining outcomes, both positive and negative, can be complex and sometimes ambiguous.
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Uncertainty around which outcomes to prioritise.
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The quality and reliability of data needed to track and measure impact can be inconsistent or difficult to interpret.
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Ensuring that impact persists after an exit, as maintaining positive outcomes post-investment is often uncertain.
Our presenters provided real-world examples of how their funds are addressing these challenges, sharing strategies and frameworks they’ve implemented to track and ensure long-term impact. Through these case studies, they offered valuable insights into creating and managing impact sustainably in the long run. Some of the key insights are:
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Start with a clear vision of the problem you want to address and the pathways through which your interventions will lead to change
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Set out realistic goals that fit your responsibilities, resources and limitations as an asset manager and be transparent about that
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Develop your own Impact Frameworks, catering to your own needs and cherry-picking from established frameworks
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Impact measurement will always take judgment and assumptions from its owners and users
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Tell your impact story and intentions by combining quantitative and qualitative insights, illustrated by learnings and dilemmas.
To know more about the seminar, the content and strategies applied by our expert speakers, take a look at the presentation HERE.
Thank you again to the presenters: Willem for the very interactive and dynamic workshop and Nikki, Adam and Suzanne for the insightful practical examples!
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