1. Social Impact Measurement: why and for
whom?
The view of the European Economic and Social
Committee
OECD Forum on Partnership and Local Development
Stockholm 2014-04-24

2.  Treaty based advisory body to EU Institutions
 Gathers organised civil society perspectives
 Opinions, hearings, studies, reports and projects
 Specific social economy and enterprise expertise
 Key player in the EU social enterprise policy agenda  SBI, Strasbourg,
project…
 EESC Observer in GECES (Groupe d'Experts de la Commission sur
l'Entrepreneuriat Social)
The European Economic and Social Committee

3.  Nothing new for social enterprises…
 Europe is changing  unprecedented crisis and societal challenges 
more needs & less funding
 Social enterprise recognised key in exit strategy and to re-build 
primary purpose is social impact
 Most recently: Strasbourg Declaration calls for: “In this new Europe, all players
need to look at growth and value creation from a wider perspective, by including social
indicators and demonstrating positive social impact when reporting social and economic
progress”.
Social Impact – Why?

4.  EU Policy Perspective
 Single Market Act II and SBI  methods needed for EuSEF and EaSI
 GECES sub-group report
 EESC opinion  adopted December 2013
 Recognise that motives vary by stakeholders:
 Public authorities  policy outcome relative policy objectives
 Social enterprise  realisation of social mission
 Investors  realisation of funding objective
 User  results relative expectations
Social Impact – for Whom?

5.  Welcome the debate on social impact measurements
 EESC description: social outcomes and impact created by specific activities
(and models) of the social enterprise – not the enterprise itself
 Tread carefully, do not rush  may counteract purpose of supporting social
enterprises
 Core purpose of enterprise and already an integral part
 Input  Output  Outcome  Impact
 Methods exist  are bottom-up and both qualitative and quantitative
 Risk of incorrect/over-application in MS  stifle social innovation and sector development
 Pilot, review and adjust  limit to EuSEF and EaSI
Social Impact – How? The EESC Opinion

6. Further to Consider
 Remember why!  to support of social enterprise growth and
development
 Must be social enterprises centred and supportive of mission
 Recognise diversity of sector  risk loosing new and small…
 Ensure proportionality  must fit specific models and logic, resources…
 Separate EuSEF and EaSI  don’t mix financial and political effects…
 Accredit and promote using existing methods
 Awareness raising and training programmes for MS

7.  Co-design pilots with social enterprises  local, regional and national
levels
 CEGES report and EESC opinion basis for EU policy work  need a clear
policy dimension  consultation?
 Connection to G8 central  include context of European welfare models
 EESC will continue to discuss and monitor
The Way Forward…

8. Thank you!
Follow EESC work on Social Enterprise:
http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.social-entrepreneurship-make-it-happen