NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

As businesses and investors increasingly recognize the business case and ethical imperative for women’s empowerment and involving the community in product and service design, the need for robust and relevant measurement frameworks becomes critical. This session will highlight the relationship between business and social metrics, demonstrating why Return on Investment (ROI), is an important metric that can be further enhanced through qualitative data and storytelling. We will showcase how a broader understanding of value creation through community engagement and technical assistance measurement strategies can both improve social impact and business benefits. Drawing on the rich history of organizations working on community engagement, technical assistance, women’s empowerment and evaluation, this session will offer practical insights and future directions for effective measurement in this space.