Impact Measurement & Management for the SDGs

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/impact-for-sdgs

Introduction

### Course Review: Impact Measurement & Management for the SDGs In today’s world, the importance of sustainability and social impact has never been more pronounced. As global challenges mount and the multi-trillion-dollar gap for sustainable development becomes more evident, businesses and investors are uniquely positioned to address these pressing issues. The course **"Impact Measurement & Management for the SDGs"** on Coursera serves as a crucial resource for anyone looking to understand and implement effective strategies to measure and manage their impact on people and the planet. #### Course Overview The course delves into how the private sector can fill the $2 trillion gap needed for sustainable development by enhancing its practices around impact measurement and management. Participants will explore how to seamlessly incorporate sustainability and social impact factors into their management decisions, ultimately aligning their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) or impact activities with emerging global standards. Developed through a collaborative effort, this course not only provides crucial knowledge but also practical frameworks to translate theory into actionable insights. #### Syllabus Highlights The course is structured around four universal steps of impact measurement and management: **Set Strategy, Integrate, Optimize, and Reinforce.** Each section is further divided into resources and guidelines tailored specifically for both enterprises and investors, ensuring a comprehensive understanding for all participants. 1. **Set Strategy**: This initial module focuses on identifying material issues relevant to stakeholders and defining target SDG outcomes. You’ll learn how to craft an impact thesis and adjust your investment policy to align with SDG goals. This module emphasizes a cumulative understanding, with quizzes designed to reinforce concepts covered. 2. **Integrate**: This section guides you on implementing the resources and tools necessary for measuring SDG impact effectively. Enterprises will set performance targets and choose indicators, while investors integrate these processes throughout their investment lifecycle, from due diligence to exit strategies. 3. **Optimize**: Here, you are taught to analyze the data generated by your processes. The focus shifts from merely collecting data to utilizing it to boost your impact further. This section is crucial for making informed decisions based on performance insights, helping both enterprises and investors refine their strategies. 4. **Reinforce**: In the final module, you'll learn about enhancing governance and accountability regarding the impact created. This includes effective communication about measurement performance and engaging with 3rd party verifications to enhance credibility and improve practices. #### Course Experience The course is thoughtfully laid out, ensuring a seamless flow of information. The modular design makes complex topics accessible, and the dual-focus for enterprises and investors reflects the realities of sustainable business practices today. Each module includes a blend of theoretical concepts and practical applications, backed by real-world examples that contextualize the learning experience. Participants can expect to engage in quizzes after each module, which not only reinforce their learning but also gauge their understanding of the material. The supportive community on Coursera, along with discussion forums, fosters collaboration, allowing participants to share insights and learn collectively. #### Recommendations For anyone invested in promoting sustainability, whether as a corporate leader, investor, or practitioner in the field, **"Impact Measurement & Management for the SDGs"** is not just a course—it's a gateway to becoming an effective change agent. It’s particularly recommended for: - **Corporate Executives**: Gain strategic insights on embedding sustainability into business objectives. - **Impact Investors**: Learn to align investment strategies with sustainable development goals. - **Non-Profit Leaders**: Understand how to quantify and manage impact in a way that resonates with funders and stakeholders. In conclusion, this course is a must-take for professionals aiming to align their impact management practices with global sustainability standards. It equips you with not only the knowledge but also the tools to make a tangible difference in the world, making it an investment into both your professional growth and the future of our planet.

Syllabus

Welcome to Impact Measurement and Management for the SDGs!

How can the private sector help fill the $2 trillion gap needed for sustainable development? By getting better at measuring and managing its impact on people and planet. This module introduces the 4 universal steps of impact measurement and management (SET STRATEGY, INTEGRATE, OPTIMIZE and REINFORCE), explores how they can be applied across the investment value chain to simplify ESG and impact practices. It also introduces the SDG Impact Standards and the 5 Dimensions of Impact.

Set Strategy equips you to understand the material issues most relevant to your stakeholders and then define your target SDG outcomes in ways that align with your overall business or investment objectives. You’ll create an impact thesis for each, and, if you’re an investor, a revised investment policy statement that integrates your SDG goals. You’ll also set ABC classification levels for your goals. Note that this week is divided into two parts: first, instruction, review materials, and resources for Enterprises, and second, the equivalent materials for Investors. The material is cumulative, and to complete the course, you will need to pass the quizzes for both roles.

Integrate teaches you how to put into place the resources, tools, and processes that will allow you to measure your SDG impact. If you’re an enterprise this includes setting performance targets, choosing indicators from across the 5 dimensions, and deciding how you’ll track those indicators. If you’re an investor, this involves integrating impact management processes into every step of your investment process, from due diligence through exit. Note that this week is divided into two parts: first, instruction, review materials, and resources for Enterprises, and second, the equivalent materials for Investors. The material is cumulative, and to complete the course, you will need to pass the quizzes for both roles.

Optimize is about what you do when the processes you have set up generate information about your impact. Importantly, this step goes beyond just collecting the data. This is where you use the data to create more impact. We show you how to analyze enterprise data to understand where performance deviated from the plan and why. Then we guide you to use that analysis to make decisions about the new actions you will take to improve impact performance. If you’re an investor, you’ll review the data coming from your investees and monitor their management of SDG impact. You’ll decide whether to hold and engage to increase impact, or exit, taking impact considerations into account. Note that this week is divided into two parts: first, instruction, review materials, and resources for Enterprises, and second, the equivalent materials for Investors. The material is cumulative, and to complete the course, you will need to pass the quizzes for both roles.

In Reinforce, you deepen your governance and accountability for the impact you are creating. This includes disclosing to internal stakeholders or the public about your impact measurement and management performance. You’ll also learn about 3rd party verifications, how to get ready to undertake them, and how to use them to improve your work. Note that this week is divided into two parts: first, instruction, review materials, and resources for Enterprises, and second, the equivalent materials for Investors. The material is cumulative, and to complete the course, you will need to pass the quizzes for both roles.