invest only on projects that have been tested and proved to be effective.
Policymakers are always looking for concrete evidence to inform development of policies or review of existing regulations and laws. Through research they can get insights that will help them design new policies or advocate for necessary changes.
Most of social impact initiatives are always geared towards addressing certain gaps within communities to bring about equity, equality and inclusivity. Such programmes require a study to shed light on disparities in access to and outcomes for different groups of people, including those from marginalized or underserved communities. By identifying these disparities, implementers can work towards ensuring that social programs are equitable and accessible to all regardless of their background or circumstances.
Measuring social impact of initiatives also helps to demonstrate to stakeholders, including investors, citizens, and communities, that they are taking responsibility for their social actions and are working to make a positive difference.
Demonstrating accountability and transparency, however, requires that research is conducted in an ethical, inclusive, and participatory manner by involving beneficiaries and stakeholders as much as possible. Data management tools and systems used should therefore be secure, reliable, and user-friendly. An organization should disclose its sources, methods, assumptions, limitations, and uncertainties and acknowledge failures and mistakes, if it is to meet the threshold for accountability and transparency.
Reputation management is another benefit that organizations have leveraged social impact research to score. For many organizations, corporate social responsibility programmes are primarily intended as a signal of financial competence to social investors, thereby serving as a tool for managing the reputation and legitimacy in the eyes of stakeholders. Because of the improved reputation and positive brand image, an organization becomes much more attractive to potential investors and qualified talent, who are aware of the principles of social, environmental and governance sustainability.
CSR pundits agree that such initiatives are an organization’ s responsibility for the effect of its decisions and actions on society and the environment.
By operating in transparent and ethical manner, organizations contribute to sustainable development, including the health and welfare of society. Research will therefore provide evidence that an organization can use to build its profile and enhance its brand image.
Social impact research has also been proved to be a very crucial way of engaging employees because it allows companies to involve employees in understanding how their community initiatives affect them.
Engaging employees in the creation of social programs yields significant benefits for both the company and its workforce. When organizations involve their staff in developing initiatives that align with shared values, it cultivates a deeper sense of purpose and belonging within the workplace. Employees who witness their company ' s active commitment to social good often experience a boost in morale and develop stronger loyalty to their employer. This collaborative approach not only enhances the effectiveness of social programs but also strengthens the bond between the company and its employees, creating a more positive and purposeful work environment.
For the public- citizens and consumers, social impact studies help organizations ensure that actions match words as the public are quick to spot inauthenticity, and it can damage a brand ' s reputation. Research will reveal insights that will ensure initiatives are aligned with consumer values, offering a real opportunity for brands to grow, build stronger relationships with their customers, and tap into the rising demand for societal impact.
There are several ways through which research can be shaped to create more societal impact.
In order for evidence to genuinely benefit society, researchers must shift their perspective on communities. Rather than viewing them as end user consumers or passive recipients of information, researchers should recognize communities as dynamic entities composed of expert citizens. This paradigm shift necessitates early and continuous collaboration with community members throughout the research process, eschewing the outdated approach of translating knowledge only at the final stages- or worse, neglecting translation entirely. Failure to adopt this inclusive methodology carries significant risks. It may result in the production of evidence that fails to address the community ' s actual needs, arrives too late to be of use, or lacks relevance to current circumstances. Consequently, such research risks becoming obsolete and unutilized, ultimately falling short of its potential to create meaningful impact and drive positive change within the community it aims to serve
Working with communities and decision makers to generate evidence that serves their needs is also a better way of guiding research for social impact. We need to transform research culture by establishing sustained relationships with communities through collaboration. This will make the research process more dynamic- and therefore more effective. Traditionally, the lifecycle of research is one-directional where researchers generate evidence and then present this evidence to communities and decision makers. With social impact research, we must bring in other key stakeholders in a social programme.
Creating institutional demand for evidence can also help translate research work into societal impact. Most research works aren’ t always easily accessible to those who need them. They are often hidden behind academic journal paywalls and couched in technical jargon. We must make research accessible to decision makers when they need it, in a form they can understand.
Organizations need to remember that evidence alone has never been enough. By seeing communities as experts, encouraging collaborative research, and building institutional demand, both researchers and research funders can better shape knowledge for action and effectively fuel the social change we seek.
At Ipsos, we believe research-informed solutions can inspire change and make the world more equitable and sustainable. Our theoretical research investigates the frameworks under which organizations operate and their role in society.
Our research findings have proved beneficial to leaders in corporate, not-forprofit and public sectors who are hoping to contribute and to create social impact. We equip them with tools and evidence from research and practice to make their work impactful.
We belief that social impact research can help to improve the quality of life for our people, support the development of more sustainable societies and inform policy and practice, which can lead to significant transformation.
Samuel Muthoka is the Director, Africa Center for Development Research & Evaluation at Ipsos. You can commune with him via email at: Samuel. Muthoka @ ipsos. com.