Challenges of Measuring Social Impact in Romania. A Case Study in a Social Economy Organization Active in the Social Services Field

Abstract

Even if the social economy is an emergent sector in Romania, advancing social impact measurement and management becomes imperative for public authorities and the whole society to understand how much positive social change can be attributed to the social economy organizations, especially those active in the social services field. The main objective of this paper is to systematically review and analyse the first fragile attempts of social impact approach and measurement in Romania. Applicative research will be carried out in a social economy organization active in the social services field to understand the current challenges of measuring and managing social impact faced by social economy organizations. The article concludes with an in-depth discussion and a set of recommendations for developing a more effective national impact measurement framework better calibrated to the social and solidarity economy realities, particularly considering the social services field.