Позитивные изменения. Том 2, №4 (2022). Positive changes. Volume 2, Issue 4 (2022)

Директор Фонда «Центр гражданских и социальных инициатив Югры» прокомментировал, как работает ЕЛКА.

«Единый личный кабинет – это система, которая мотивирует людей рассказывать о том, что они делают, и рефлексировать на эту тему. Мы агрегируем всю доступную информацию из открытых источников, собираем и сегментируем по определенным направлениям и выводим некое рейтинговое значение. В конкурсах, которые мы проводим как оператор грантов губернатора, мы делаем так, чтобы какие-то проверяемые вещи экспертам конкурса нельзя было оценить ниже, чем на платформе, например, значение опыта организации, команды. И это мотивирует людей: мы заметили, что они дополняют о себе информацию, какие-то данные верифицируют. Все это представляет ценность для государственного сектора, журналистского сообщества, активных жителей региона. Система в значительной степени саморазвивающаяся. Мы задаем правила, и система наполняется данными», – говорит Яков Самохвалов.

Он также отмечает, что в 2022 году интерес к оценке растет за пределами непосредственно экспертного сообщества: такие подходы становятся востребованы в федеральных и региональных органах власти, и у бизнеса. «2022 год стал переломным – мы подходим к первой государственной акцептированной теме оценки. Мы должны понять, как конвертируются государственные инвестиции – субсидии, бюджетные средства, гранты для НКО – какую ценность для общества представляют, помимо историй в духе «мы помогли…». Это разговор на цифрах, проверяемых фактах, чего сектору не хватало. А вторая вещь – оценка нужна в первую очередь самим организациям. Многие организации стремятся к «длинному» сотрудничеству с донорскими организациями, крупным и средним бизнесом, с госструктурами. Но без справедливой внутренней оценки своей деятельности у организации не может быть ни стратегии, ни долгосрочных планов. Если нет долгосрочных планов, то сложно привлекать партнеров и развиваться», – говорит эксперт.

Теория изменений, открытые данные, доказательный подход, стандарт отчетности, разработка гайда по созданию и оценке импакт-проектов, обсуждение подходов к оценке социального эффекта, развитие сообществ практиков, большой прогресс в развитии инструментов и методологии оценки импакта, рост интереса к оценке как к профессиональной деятельности – такие тренды видят победители премии в 2022 году.

Премия научно-популярного журнала об импакт-инвестициях и оценке социального воздействия «Позитивные изменения» является ежегодной. В конце 2023 года мы узнаем имена новых лауреатов – людей и организаций, которые вносят позитивный вклад в развитие темы импакта.

Impact Investment 2022 Results: A Perspective from the Positive Changes Journal Award Winners

On December 7, 2022, the first annual award of the Positive Changes, a popular science journal about impact investments and social impact assessment, was presented. The award recognizes experts, journal contributors, and organizations for their input into the development of social and economic impact assessment. Read our article about who received the award and what for, how the winners of the award remembered 2022 in terms of impact and development of evaluation methodology, and what key events and new approaches can be highlighted.

Yulia Vyatkina

Editor, Positive Changes Journal

ABOUT THE AWARD AND THE NOMINEES

The award was organized by the Positive Changes Factory, the founder of the Positive Changes Journal, with the support of partners: Association of Volunteer Centers, Wowhouse branding agency and Gladway Foundation of Development of Media Projects and Social Programs. The awards was presented as part of the #Myvmeste 2022 International Forum of Civic Participation. Winners were announced in six categories.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today,” says Chinese wisdom. So it is never too late to make a dream come true or to make the world at least a little bit better. A planted tree is sure to produce a harvest.

As was noted by Natalia Gladkikh, editor-in-chief of the Positive Changes journal, the pioneers in the field of evaluation 20 years ago planted seedlings that are now bearing fruit: in 2021, Positive Changes Journal, a popular science Journal about impact investments and social impact assessment, appeared.

“We decided that each year we would celebrate those who most delighted us in terms of impact. It was difficult for the journal's editors to choose the 10 winners because there were so many people and organizations who inspired us, who developed innovative approaches to the evaluation, monitoring and planning of project activities. Our 10 laureates are people and organizations whose contribution to the development of the evaluation and impact industry is so great that without them things would be different,” said Natalia Gladkikh.

TO BE CLEARER AND CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE

The award in the Development of Social Projects Evaluation System category was won by the Center for Advanced Management Solutions (CAMS) for the introduction of assessment models into the system of public administration and the publication of methodological materials. In 2020, CAMS and the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation published an expert note “Application of the Theory of Change for Strategic Audit and Strategic Planning in Russia.”[17 - Kim, A. I., Kopytok, V. K., Filippova, Y. A. & Tsygankov, M. V. (2020). Application of the Theory of Change to Strategic Audit and Strategic Planning in Russia. Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation, Center for Advanced Management Solutions. Retrieved from: https://cpur.ru/teoriya_izmenenij. (accessed: 09.12.2022).]

As the authors of the document note, there is a gap between the strategic goals of Russia's development, which are formulated by the President of the Russian Federation in his decrees and by the Government of the Russian Federation in its strategies, and the final results. The formal achievement of indicators does not always mean achievement of the originally planned social and economic effect. Moreover, different groups of beneficiaries often do not feel the effects of the goals set and achieved. One of the tools to bridge this gap is the theory of change, an approach in which each instrument of public policy must be focused on achieving a specific socio-economic change[18 - Weiss, C. H. (1995). Nothing as practical as good theory: Exploring theory-based evaluation for comprehensive community initiatives for children and families. New approaches to evaluating community initiatives: Concepts, methods, and contexts, 1, 65–92.].

One of the authors of the expert memorandum, Maksim Tsygankov, head of the Program and Policy evaluation project area at the Center for Advanced Management Solutions, shared with the editors of the Positive Changes what important things happened in 2022 from the perspective of evaluation development in our country.

“It is too early to talk about the practice of evidence-based approaches in the public sector, despite the fact that in 2022 it was possible to finalize a number of evaluation projects, such as microdata projects of the Federal Service for Labour and Employment. Thus, detailed administrative microdata on the state of the labour market became available to researchers. Research is expected to be based on this open data, the results of which will help improve organizational and technological processes of employment for citizens and recruitment for employers[19 - Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation. (2021). A collection of best practices and initiatives in the evidence-based approach to management decision-making. According to the results of the 1st Competition of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation. Moscow. Retrieved from: https://ach.gov.ru/upload/iblock/769/a8sk3xrqzdtomz4chspi3r8xkav4wp0f.pdf. (accessed: 09.12.2022).]. In addition, I am glad to see a growing number of code and repositories around the world with the goal of evaluating and analyzing data. There are also cases from Russian companies, including MTS. MTS Big Data specialists have launched the first version of Ambrosia library for working with A/B-tests into Open Source[20 - Bairamkulov, A. & Khakimov, A. (2022). Ambrosia is an Open Source library for working with A/B tests. Retrieved from: https://habr.com/ru/company/ru_mts/blog/700992/. (accessed: 09.12.2022).]. We see that it is business that is mostly interested in the proof of practice,” said Maksim Tsygankov.

On the positive side, according to the expert, we can also add that the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation in 2022 mediated the evidence-based policy agenda in the public sector, continuing to hold a competition of best practices and initiatives of the evidence-based approach to management decision-making.

Also, the SOL' Social Innovation Support Center was awarded in the Development of Social Projects Evaluation System category for the introduction of social reporting standards and the theory of change in the activities of social enterprises.

The standard helps various social projects and charities to form a compelling account of their social activities and to formalize the logic of the project's transformative impact. It includes all the data required for reporting, from organizational structure to finances. The standard also provides an opportunity to show the real results of its activities to investors, government authorities and other stakeholders[21 - SOL SISC. (2014). Social reporting standard. How to prepare reporting based on your performance. Retrieved from: https://impact.ngo.ru/library/view/31. (accessed: 09.12.2022).].

“We take a full-hearted approach to developing social innovation, and we believe if there is a problem, there is a solution. The social accountability standard tool allows social innovators to be clearer and closer to the people. I want to add that I spend a lot of time trying to understand the effects of social entrepreneurs, and how to help the state notice social entrepreneurs. The social impact assessment model, which is currently being developed by the Social Projects Support Fund, is still very difficult to use to compare one player with another, but it can be used for self-diagnosis – to see your own “growth zone.” The evaluation can be done by the project itself or by an independent player,” says Alexey Maslov, executive director of the SOL center and director of the Acceleration and Educational Programs Department of the Social Projects Support Fund of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives.

NO MATTER WHAT, WE CONTINUE TO EVOLVE IN THE FIELD OF EVALUATION

There are four winners in the Development of Practices for Implementation of Evaluation of Social Projects category. The first award went to the Timchenko Foundation for developing a standard of evidence-based practices for evaluating social impact in childhood and for shaping approaches to assessing the effectiveness of community development.

In 2018, with the strategic participation of the Timchenko Foundation, the Standard for Evidence-Based Social Practices appeared in Russia[22 - Standard of evidence-based social practices in childhood. (2018). Moscow. Retrieved from: https://timchenkofoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/standart_dokazatelnosti_socialnyh_prakti_v_sfere_detstva.pdf. (accessed: 09.12.2022).]. It was developed by specialists from expert organizations, including Center for Evidence-Based Social Design of the Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Association of Program and Policy Evaluators, Process Consulting company, Institute for the Study of Childhood, Family, and Education of the Russian Academy of Education.

10 organizations from Moscow, Penza, Cherepovets, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Ivanovo provided descriptions of their social practices (model, technology, methodology, service, etc.) in an evidence-based format and were professionally verified. The format of the practice description implies its brief content, information on the achievement of social results, the quality of the available evidence on the achievement of positive changes in the lives of the beneficiaries, the regulated nature, the validity and good elaboration of the practice concept.

The standard is now a document that is evolving both methodologically and practically. In particular, the provisions of the standard are taken into account by the relevant ministries when developing methodological recommendations for organizations in the field of childhood, and the academic community makes extensive use of the standard's developments.

Another area of the Timchenko Foundation's work is the development of approaches to evaluating the effectiveness of local community development. In 2022, the foundation launched the Solidarity Communities project competition, which aims to solve small area problems by local communities, organizations, and initiative groups[23 - Rudina-Ladyzhets, E. (2022). Communities as a driver of territorial development. The Solidarity Communities project experience. Positive Changes. 48–59. https://doi. org/10.55140/2782–5817–2022–2-S2–48–59.].

Maria Morozova, General Director of the Timchenko Foundation, told the Positive Changes Journal how the foundation created, approved, and independently audited a system for monitoring and evaluating programs.

“We use the ‘theory of change,' assuming how change will occur in the short, medium and long term. As part of it, we developed our own system of indicators, which helps to see the results. Each program has a different one, but they are all governed by the same standards and principles. The monitoring and evaluation system includes all participants in the activities – the foundation, regional operators, and beneficiaries – and this helps all of us develop, make informed strategic and management decisions, and achieve significant social changes,” says Maria Morozova.

The system has a pyramid structure:

• the lower level is the direct results of the foundation's work (number of events, trained specialists, newly developed methodological materials, etc.);

• the middle is the results achieved by the supported projects (changes in the lives of the people for whom the foundation works – children saved in their families, jobs, co-financing for the development of the city, etc.);

• the third, uppermost level is the long-term social impact, the change at the societal level of the situation that underlies the program. This is usually determined through external independent research.

Another winner in this category was the Help Needed foundation for creating the Core IT service, which allows socially oriented non-profit organizations to create reports, plan goals, and measure social impact[24 - Core. A project by the Nuzhna Pomosh (Help Needed) foundation. (2022). Retrieved from: https://core.nuzhnapomosh.ru/. (accessed: 09.12.2022).].

Elizaveta Yaznevich, head of research at the Nuzhna Pomosh (Help Needed) foundation, told about other projects that the foundation developed in 2022. For example, the foundation's team of experts prepared a guide on creating and evaluating impact projects for the Sistema Charitable Foundation[25 - Sistema Charitable Foundation. (2022). A guide for creating and evaluating impact projects. Retrieved from: https://bf.sistema.ru/upload/iblock/abe/tmvvep8snmgywrkonvn6b24s9rub9i3c/Gai_d-impakt-proekty_final.pdf. (accessed: 09.12.2022).].

“We studied the experience of Sistema JSFC Group companies – the experience is varied in many ways, and together we formulated the criteria for classifying a project supported by business as an impact investment. The goal of such investments is to achieve a positive, measurable social or environmental effect – simultaneously with the business result; all the expected results of the project are measurable and attainable; the effect achieved is long-term. In addition, based primarily on the literature dedicated to monitoring and evaluation of social projects, we have prescribed methodological guidelines for all stages of the impact investment project cycle. In its final form, the guide is designed for a wide target audience: from the shareholder making the decision to invest to the employee generating the project idea,” says Elizaveta Yaznevich.

The prize was also awarded to the Way Home Charitable Foundation for introducing systemic monitoring and evaluation tools into the practice of grantmaking organizations. 2022 saw several significant events for the foundation. Thus, as part of the Association of Program and Policy Evaluators conference, the Way Home foundation specialists shared their experience with colleagues from all over Russia in implementing and using monitoring and evaluation of socially significant projects, including the experience of those who are just beginning to use monitoring and evaluation. For the first time in the eight years of the conference, one of the sections was devoted entirely to the experience of the Way Home Charitable Foundation.

It is also worth noting the victory in the Corporate Philanthropy Leaders contest held by the Donors Forum. In the Best Program Promoting Sustainable Development through Grant Competitions (Best Grant Competition) category, 1st place was won by Severstal with the Way Home Charitable Foundation grant competition.

“This was only achieved through a two-year implementation of the results of an independent external evaluation of the foundation's grant competition conducted in 2019. It is important that despite all the events happening in the country and the world, we continue to develop the theme of evaluation, increasingly promoting the principles of evidence-based social design, emphasizing that positive changes in the lives of beneficiaries, communities and territories is the main purpose of NPO activities,” – says Alena Bogomolova, head of the Resource and Methodology Center of the Way Home charity foundation of the Severstal company, member of the Management Board of Association of Program and Policy Evaluators.

According to the expert, specialists from the foundation's Resource and Methodology Center traditionally work with all new grantees on logical models or chains of social results of projects at the beginning of their implementation. In 2022, the level of training for beginners has increased significantly and the time for this work took half as much as in previous years.

“For us, the question of how to implement a culture of evaluation in an organization is always relevant. This year we added blocks about monitoring and evaluation to the social design training seminars. Thus, when working on social design skills, even those entering the topic for the first time immediately perceive monitoring and evaluation as integral processes in their work. We tested this program in seven districts of the Vologda Region,” said Alena Bogomolova.

The fourth prize in this category was won by the Our Future Foundation for systematizing methods and programs in the field of evaluating the social and economic effectiveness of social enterprises and impact investors. In 2022, the foundation conducted a sample study of the social impact of social entrepreneurs' projects in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Yugra[26 - Our Future Foundation. (2022). The Our Future Foundation conducted a study of the effect of impact investments in Yugra. Retrieved from: https://www.nb-fund.ru/press-center/news/fond-nashe-budushchee-provel-issledovanie-effekta-impakt-investitsiy-v-yugre-/. (accessed: 09.12.2022).]. Three projects were selected for the study: X–Land computer club (Nizhnevartovsk), Seven Dwarfs kindergarten (Nefteyugansk) and Botanica Bar (Nizhnevartovsk). In 2016–2018, these companies participated in a pilot project to develop the social investment market in the region.

The method used by the experts is the Social Return on Investment, or SROI. The Our Future Foundation is adapting it to Russian conditions to evaluate the effectiveness of impact investments. The data from this study helps investors and project managers understand how effectively funds are spent to create a social result.

The foundation has been applying the social impact assessment approach for 15 years, making decisions to fund socially transformative projects in the form of interest-free loans[27 - Gladkikh, N. & Vyatkina, Y. (2022). Social Impact is Always the Cornestone of Social Entrepreneurship. Interview with Natalia Zvereva. Positive Changes, 2(3), 6–14.].

Natalia Zvereva, director of the Our Future Foundation, notes that in 2022 the discussion of approaches to assessing the social impact intensified. First of all, this is related to the discussion of the specifics of social enterprises of various legal forms. Competencies in determining the approach to social impact assessment at the level of professional standards in the field of social entrepreneurship are important.

“Our experience shows that there is no universal methodology for assessing social impact, because there are differences in approaches for enterprises of different legal forms, different types of activities. For example, it is difficult to evaluate sports and social service projects using the same approach. As part of the Aksel.Sotszakaz accelerator, we saw confirmation of this thesis. The emphasis on industry specifics is one of the important trends in the development of this topic,” says Natalia Zvereva.

Another trend is the attempt to simplify the SROI method, to separate stakeholder approaches to determining the social impact. “Assessment of the social impact for the purpose of receiving state support and for the purpose of attracting investment may have different criteria. For example, in the first case, the principle of “social impact assessment in exchange for a measure of support” can be used. The topic of social impact assessment approaches is also relevant due to the fact that the quality of people's lives remains the number one priority in any initiative,” the expert explains.

GLOBAL VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF EVALUATION AND SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY OF PRACTITIONERS