Ecorys to evaluate Global Social Enterprise Programme
Consultancy Ecorys has been hired by the British Council to evaluate the impact of its Global Social Enterprise programme, which aims at promoting the development of social enterprises and social investment around the world.
Social enterprises are formed with the goal of improving of one or more social, environmental or community practices through innovative solutions that improve people’s lives. These organisations combine entrepreneurial approaches and trading methods with a social mission and see profit is as a means, not as an end, of their business.
Global Social Enterprise Programme
The Global Social Enterprise Programme has been set up by the British Council with the aim of promoting the development of social enterprises and social investment to “help foster a more sustainable, inclusive and prosperous future for all.” The programme does this by providing social entrepreneurs and NGO practitioners with access to training, consultancy and investment opportunities. In addition, the scheme works with policy leaders to create ecosystems in which social enterprise and social investment can thrive. The programme is active in 24 countries, where it works with more than 150 international and local partners, and has so far trained over 9050 social entrepreneurs.
To assess the impact of its programme, the British Council has hired Ecorys, together with Social Enterprise Europe (SEE), to execute an evaluation. The consulting firm will measure the impact by analysing programme management, such as surveys completed by beneficiaries before and after the support, by interviewing stakeholders, and by conducting case study visits to China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Ghana. The length and financial details of the assessment have not been disclosed.
Evaluating skills
For Ecorys, this is the second evaluation deal in a short period of time. Just recently, the firm was hired to evaluate the Mental Health Services and Schools Link Pilots by the Department for Education and NHS England. Other assessments in 2015 include that of wellness and health charity GoodGym and that of Big Lottery Fund ‘A Better Start’ initiative.