Prisma Microfinace Social Benefit Analysis & Social Return - Mini Reader

This mini-reader issued by Prisma Microfinance is comprised of three sections of excerpts from "Social Return on Investment, a Practitioner's Perspective",  "Impact Analysis and Social Return on Investment" and "Social Benefits of Public Transit - Evaluating Benefits and Costs of Public Transit Service".

Excerpts from "Social Return on Investment, a Practitioner's Perspective" defines and explains Social Return on Investment (SROI). It also:

• Lists the limitations of SROI that include challenges in the area of:
  • Measurement, causality and correlation;
  • Longitudinal research;
  • Preventive measures.
• Explains the process of implementation of SROI that includes:
  • A brainstorming session;
  • Creating a flow chart that represents specific variables;
  • Quantifying the variable sin the flow chart;
  • Calculating SROI.

Excerpts from Prisma Microfinance's business plan, "Impact Analysis and Social Return on Investment", explains:

• The various areas of social impact generated by a Prisma loan that include:
  • Human Capital Development;
  • Community development;
  • Corporate governance;
  • Socially responsible market creation.
• Prisma's SROI methodology and analysis, detailing:
  • Current quantitative analysis;
  • Future quantitative analysis;
  • The economic and social indicators that Prisma considers in the qualitative analysis.

Excerpts from "Social Benefits of Public Transit - Evaluating Benefits and Costs of Public Transit Service" describes the factors to consider when evaluating public transit. It:

• Lists the benefits of public transit;
• Identifies factors that affect the degree to which a public transit service provides these benefits;
• Argues that focus on just one or two benefits undervalues the full benefits of public transit;
• Recommends more comprehensive planning that considers a wider scope of benefits and thereby favors transit.