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UNDERSTANDING IMPACT

Tshikululu’s purpose is to maximise the power of social investment to achieve impact. Everything we do, we do with this purpose in mind. We deliberately follow an integrated impact approach when engaging all of our stakeholders, from social investors to implementing partners, which includes our six enablers of impact, our social investor spectrum, Tshikululu’s Theory of Change, the sectors where we work and our Impact Measurement Guiding Principles.

Enablers of Impact

Impact doesn’t just “happen”. It requires a mix of “ingredients” working together in the right way. At Tshikululu, based on more than two decades of extensive social investment experience, we believe there are six key enablers for achieving deep and sustained impact.

Social investors help to drive impact

Along with partner organisations implementing on the ground, Tshikululu works closely with our social investor clients to design and implement high-impact social investment solutions. Of course, different social investors have different requirements, needs and impact goals. With this in mind, our Social Investor Spectrum identifies five different types of social investors, defined across 15 distinct social investor characteristics. While there are no “strict lines” between the different types of social investors, differentiating across key characteristics helps Tshikululu to design the “right” social investment solution for each client as we work together to maximise impact.

Understanding Impact

Tshikululu’s Theory of Change

Our work with social investors and partners is guided by Tshikululu’s own Theory of Change, which clearly articulates how we hope to drive impact as a business. We track progress against our TOC each year, to understand what we are accomplishing (and where we can improve).

Understanding Impact

Understanding of impact per sector

In addition to our company TOC, Tshikululu is guided by a high-level TOC for each of the six social investment sectors we work in. These clearly articulate how we believe impact – represented by an impact statement aligned with our own vision – is achieved in each sector. These sector TOCs help us to design the “right” social investment solution for each of our clients, and measure impact once implementation begins.

Understanding Impact

Our Guiding Impact Measurement Principles

Finally, as we set out to measure outputs, outcomes and impact, all of our work is based on six foundational Impact Measurement principles. These help to ensure that our measurement and reporting is accurate and meaningful.

We make concerted efforts to collect accurate and meaningful data.

Data is Key

We make concerted efforts to collect accurate and meaningful data.
We have a bias for outcomes indicators, which paint a more meaningful picture of achievement

Beyond Inputs and Outputs

We have a bias for outcomes indicators, which paint a more meaningful picture of achievement
We utilise quantitative and qualitative data to tell the full impact story.

Numbers and Stories

We utilise quantitative and qualitative data to tell the full impact story.
Our M&E processes, indicators and reports are simple and easily accessible to enhance communication.

Less is More

Our M&E processes, indicators and reports are simple and easily accessible to enhance communication.
We collect data that is important and  useful in making better decisions.

So What?

We collect data that is important and  useful in making better decisions.
We maintain transparency in our M&E reporting.

Keep it Real

We maintain transparency in our M&E reporting.