12 Sep 2024

Associate Professor Zhang Weina, Deputy Director of SGFIN, spoke at the Brown Bag Lunch Talk: An Introduction to the Social Return on Investments and Its Application to a Health Promotion Project, organized by the National Healthcare Group.

She began her presentation by explaining the SROI methodology, highlighting its effectiveness as a framework for planning and evaluating impact initiatives. She then outlined the steps involved in conducting an SROI analysis, starting with defining the scope and identifying the stakeholders. This process continues with mapping outputs and outcomes using the Theory of Change and Logic Model, followed by evidencing outcomes and establishing impacts. The final steps involve monetizing and reporting these impacts.

In the second part of her presentation, Professor Zhang demonstrated the application of the SROI methodology in a health promotion project - a three-year intervention implemented by NHG to influence behaviour and social norms around healthy eating habits among students. The results showed improvements in students' knowledge and intention to adopt healthier eating, leading to positive behavioural changes. She emphasized the importance of equipping students with knowledge, skills, and a growth mindset, as well as the role of multiple stakeholders and seamless national scaling to maximize impact.

During the Q&A session, the audience raised several insightful comments and questions. One attendee noted the potential for a significant multiplier effect if the project reached a tipping point, leading to behavioural changes across an entire generation. In response to a question about the effectiveness of social interventions, Professor Zhang stressed the need for a comprehensive curriculum and extended observation periods to ensure lasting impact on students.