How we advanced our mission in 2025
A message from Social Value International CEO, Ben Carpenter
Dear colleagues and friends,
For those of us trying to change the way the world accounts for value this year has been a harsh reality check. Across the globe, there has been strong resistance to our movement; Sustainability regulations have been rolled back, many governments prioritise a war economy over an impact economy, philanthropic funding has reduced dramatically, profit margins are squeezed, social value and sustainability practices have been de-prioritised by many. All this as inequality reaches new heights and societies become increasingly divided. It’s hard to stay calm, it’s sometimes hard to see progress.
But as another year comes to an end we can choose how we reflect. Yes, we should be angry, and often we can despair at the scale of the challenge. But we can also choose to focus on the things that are in our control, and we can point to the fact that the ideas and principles that underpin the social value movement are emerging everywhere we look. Below, you will find a list of achievements that we have contributed to in 2025 (and the list could be longer).
To me, these are all signs that our movement is growing. We are growing in number and in diversity. There are new people arriving into our movement. New initiatives – some with brilliant innovation, and new frameworks that reinforce existing thinking. Whilst this explosion of new initiatives and frameworks can sometimes feel confusing or even frustrating, this must be a natural consequence of reaching critical mass and a tipping point for change. It is the combination and accumulation of many individual actions that shows a convergence in thinking that will ultimately lead to systemic change.
As we move from one year to the next, I choose to reflect on our collective achievements and express gratitude for the hours that people commit across our network. Each day I am inspired by the grit, determination and passion you show for our mission. I am privileged to work with intelligent people who are thoughtful, kind and bring joy to our work.
Enjoy this list, get some rest and let’s keep building in 2026.
Ben Carpenter
CEO, Social Value International
How we advanced our mission in 2025
Building a powerful network and embedding our principles into practice
Inspiring & resilient Social Value Networks.
Congratulations to our colleagues in Italy, France and Aotearoa New Zealand who celebrated 10 year anniversaries. Congratulations to colleagues in Thailand and UK for also convening members at conferences this year. Welcome to our newest networks in Ukraine, India and West Africa!
A diverse Social Value Membership.
Collectively we are a network of 4000+ people spread across 65 countries representing public, private and civil society. As Social Value Canada say “I’m a member. Are you?”
Evolution of the Social Value Principles and Standards.
The process of evolving SVI methodology and guidance can feel slow and then all of a sudden quick. I’m so grateful to the thoughtful work of the newly formed Standards Committee for producing a full set of standards and co-creating guidance. Get involved in 2026.
Wellbeing valuations take centre stage.
This year was notable for the increased use of wellbeing valuations and innovation by SVI members to provide the open resource Measure Up and the first set of US based wellbeing valuations. Much more to come in this space in 2026 including how to embed wellbeing valuation in your SROI analysis!
A profession with momentum.
Almost 2000 people hold an accreditation from SVI as we recognise people with the skills and competencies to apply the Principles of Social Value, the SDG Impact Standards and the Capitals Coalition Framework for Integrated Decision Making. Take your first step today.
Social Value Associate exam available in six different languages.
In 2025 we worked with our networks to make the Social Value Associate exam available in two new languages; Arabic and Indonesian (Bahasa) languages. This is in addition to English, Turkish, Thai and Spanish
SROI reports produced in multiple countries.
We are delighted to see that interest in SROI remains as high as ever with assured reports from Zambia, Guinea and 15 other countries added to our global database. Special acknowledgement to our UK colleagues at the Institute for Social Value for curating this SROI database. Be inspired here.
A structured learning journey.
Throughout 2025 we worked with our network of trainers to clarify an updated training curriculum and continuous professional development that we will be rolling out next year.
Connected members globally.
We have built an online global community hub, a digital space for members to connect, share and learn together.
An incredible SVI staff team.
I am incredibly grateful to and inspired by the amazing people who I work alongside every day. We are a fully remote team coming from 13 different countries across multiple timezones and together we are weaving, building, zooming (and not slacking) to support this ever growing network.
A dedicated SVI Board and Governance team.
I am also lucky to work with the most passionate and dedicated board of trustees who are regularly joining calls at all hours of the day and night. Together we have been able to review strategy and governance throughout 2025 to make us stronger and ready for a new phase of growth. We look forward to launching an updated strategy early in 2026.
Embedding the Principles of Social Value: International Management System Standards
SVI act as interim Scheme Manager for the UNDP.
In an age of impact washing, SVI have been given the important role in providing an assurance framework designed by the United Nations Development Program. Find out more here and also use the full case study to learn about the standards.
Consolidation of Impact Management System Standards.
In 2026 ISO will finalise their Management systems for United Nations Sustainable Development Goals standard (ISO 53001). Read SVI’s blog on this here. Next year SVI will join forces with UNDP and ISO under the Impact Works Alliance to further promote these standards.
ISO Standard on Purpose Driven Organisation.
SVI have been a liaison body to the Technical Group developing Governance for organisations including Guidance for Purpose driven organizations (37011) which places ‘long term wellbeing’ for all at the centre and SVI members can shape the guidance for wellbeing accounting. Read more here.
Embedding the Principles of Social Value: Impact Investment and Impact Accounting
Investors turn to Impact Valuation.
Initiated by a group of dedicated impact investors, SVI now host the Impact Valuation Hub facilitating the creation of guidance and training for a new wave of investors wanting to improve their decision making with impact valuation. As well as convening investors with over 70 billion Euros Assets under management, this initiative brings together eco-system players to shape best practice for investors.
Consolidation of Impact Accounting Practice.
Long term partners of SVI, Capitals Coalition and the International Foundation Valuing Impacts merged and in 2026 their work continues to converge under the guidance of a new Impact Value Standards Board. Watch this space.
Impact Accounting is piloted in Colombia.
Working with GSG Impact, SVI partnered with Valuing Impact and Impacto Colombia also piloted these new methodologies with companies in Colombia this year paving the way for more pilots in emerging markets in 2026.
Embedding the Principles of Social Value: Corporate reporting and governance
Valuing what matters: Pluralism, power and business decision-making.
Through our partnership with the Capitals Coalition SVI worked with 17 leading practitioners from around the world to research how impact valuation practice currently incorporates diverse perspectives. This work will continue in 2026 – get involved here.
Supporting positive developments in corporate disclosure.
SVI joined the alliance of the Taskforce on Inequality and Social-related Financial Disclosures (TISFD). SVI also applaud the work of XRB, who co-developed He Tauira alongside Māori reporting entities reflecting the context of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Using thought leadership and advocacy to re-wire the global economy
Are your financial statements True & Fair?
SVI continued our thought leadership and advocacy work in 2025 collaborating with a range of partners to produce guidance for company directors on how to include sustainability information in financial statements. This is now in UK and Spain and soon to be published in Turkiye, Colombia and Australia.
SVI Pioneers Recognition of the Social Cost of Carbon as a Financial Liability.
The SVI Board became the first organisation to deliberately create a constructive obligation to take responsibility for the social costs of our carbon use. Read more here.
SVI provide thought leadership to accounting bodies on the true and fair requirement. Partnering with Accounting 4 sustainability and ACCA we are leading conversations about how we can integrate sustainability information into financial reports. Read more and listen here.
Impact Lawyers join forces with SVI.
Through the True & Fair project SVI have formed a partnership with the Global Alliance for Impact Lawyers (GAIL) collaborating on research and thought leadership. Watch out for more in 2026 as we explore the overlap with fiduciary duty and publish guidance on true and fair in more jurisdictions.
More to come from the True & Fair project in 2026.
Advancing our mission through global public policy forums
SVI participate in FFD4. In July, Seville hosted the 4th Finance for Development Conference where SVI participated and helped to include, in the outcome document, an important paragraph about the internalisation of impact externalities. Read more here.
Moving Beyond GDP. As the UN’s High-Level Expert Group invites global input on how to move “beyond GDP”, SVI argues that the conversation must go deeper than new indicators or wellbeing metrics. In our response, we highlight a critical problem: the accounting systems that shape what gets measured in the first place.