TAKING STOCK OF SOCIAL PERFORMANCE

For any endeavour to succeed or be effective it is necessary to measure and assess the results or the impact the endeavour is making

- Air Marshal Naresh Verma (Retd)

IT WAS A stimulating experience to be on the jury panel for the social impact BW Awards. It was very heartwarming to listen to the elevator pitch of each of the 38 organisations and soak in the extent of stupendous work being done by these motivated and enthusiastic bunch of young people. The broad aim of such individual and societal efforts is to improve the social and political conditions of the society and economic upliftment of the poor sections. Other important goals are focused on providing education, healthcare, social justice and human rights.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT

For any programme to succeed or be effective it is necessary to measure and assess the results or the impact the endeavour is making.

Evaluation of an ongoing project involves setting a performance standard, measuring the results of firm activities and comparing the results to the standard.

Essentially it entails assessing input-output, efficiency, quality and outcome. Measuring the impact of social programmes is a critical part of ensuring their effectiveness and helping them grow.

Impact assessment helps the organisation as well as the funding agencies. It also helps the government to tweak and evolve its policies and in budgeting and allocation of resources.