Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) and IRIS+ Metrics The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) is a global community of investors and development pr...
The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) is a global community of investors and development practitioners who collaborate to accelerate social entrepreneurship. They offer a comprehensive set of IRIS+ metrics to track and measure the social impact of investments and interventions.
IRIS+ stands for Impact, Reach, and Sustainability. It encompasses three core metrics:
Reach: This measures the number of people or beneficiaries reached by an investment. For example, if an organization provides microloans to farmers in a developing country, the reach would be the number of farmers who receive these loans.
Impact: This measures the positive social and environmental change achieved by an investment. For example, if an organization develops a solar power plant, the impact would be the amount of electricity generated and the greenhouse gas emissions avoided.
Sustainability: This measures the long-term viability and sustainability of an investment. For example, if an organization provides educational opportunities to children in a remote village, the sustainability would be the ability of the children to access these opportunities in the future.
Examples of IRIS+ Metrics:
Reach:
Number of beneficiaries served by a microfinance program
Number of students reached by a literacy initiative
Number of patients treated by a health clinic
Impact:
Reduction in poverty rates achieved by a microloan program
Amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduced by a renewable energy project
Number of jobs created by an enterprise
Sustainability:
Graduation rate of students from a training program
Percentage of funding that is recycled back into the program
Environmental impact (e.g., reduction in water usage)
By using these metrics, the GIIN and IRIS+ provide valuable insights into the social impact of investments and interventions. This information can be used by investors, development practitioners, and policymakers to make informed decisions about which projects to support and how to best measure the impact of their efforts