Social value, impact accounting, and impact measurements are all terms that seem to be becoming more mainstream with more organisations, companies and government departments seeking to better understand the impact they make. The Social Return on Investment methodology is one of several approaches which is used to understand and measure impact, and comes with the strong selling point that when applied correctly, this methodology helps us to quantify social change as a financial measurement.
We are pleased to have partnered with Social Value International to set up the first international Assurance Centre to deliver the level one Social Value Associate exam right here in New Zealand. This certification has been developed by our international partners in response to the clear demand for more opportunities for people to become certified and to validate their experience and skills in this sector. The Social Value Associate exam is an online, theory-based assessment which tests your knowledge of the principles and practice of the social value methodology. It is an internationally recognised qualification which certifies successful participants as qualified impact management professionals.
“I was first introduced to the Social Return on Investment methodology earlier this year. It was the beginning of my PhD journey with the Food Science Department at the University of Otago when an external non-profit organisation asked our department to do a SROI for their members. Known now as the Aotearoa Food Rescue Alliance (AFRA) Impact Project.
Not knowing what this methodology was, and after doing some desktop research, I quickly came across Social Value Aotearoa, and I signed up for a spot in the Auckland 2 day training course. I wanted to do this course to give me the backing and confidence I needed to use this methodology. It was amazing to see the wide range of people interested in measuring social impact at the training. Despite missing the first day due to a classic mix up of dates, I felt Sneha and Megan enabled me to get the best out of the training.
I recently sat the online exam. At first, I was nervous, but the allocated 90 minutes allowed plenty of time to carefully complete the exam. I am now an Associate SROI Practitioner with the intention to become an Advanced Practitioner in the near future.” – Grace Clare, PHD candidate at the University of Otago and certified Social Value Associate
This certification is available to all members of Social Value Aotearoa, and we usually recommend completing a training course before sitting the exam. There is a dedicated revision area within our member’s toolkit to help participants study and prepare for the exam.
If you are interested in getting qualified as an impact management professional, reach out to us at info@socialvalueaotearoa.nz to find out more or apply for the Social Value Associate exam today!