About
Today society at large is holding to account organizations - commercial, industrial, educational, governmental, etc. - for the economic, social and environmental impact of their activities. Many organizations are understandably keen to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable development by detailing the practices they are putting in place and sharing their progress, especially regarding the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. But fake news, corporate spin, 'official lines', and audiences either cynical or uninformed make sincere and productive communication difficult.
To counter that situation Challenging Impact provides an inclusive, accessible and transparent space in which honest, respectful and goal-oriented communication can take place. Any organization that joins Challenging Impact can present in depth its efforts to practice and promote sustainable development. It will be part of a community of other organizations and interested individuals who will scrutinize its claims, data, and analyses, write reviews and comments, and rate its performance. The organization can in turn examine, critique and rate the performance of others.
Individuals are equally as important in the Challenging Impact community and very much welcome. Whether they bring particular expertise about an SDG, first-hand knowledge of an organisation, on-the-ground experience of development work, or just the desire to make a difference, their contribution is invaluable.
We want the following to define Challenging Impact:
- Responsibility - organizations making claims about their performances with respect to an SDG must provide the data on which they base those claims; community members giving critical reviews and comments must point to evidence which supports what they say
- Quality - organizations must submit clean well-documented data that conform wherever possible to widely-accepted standards
- Transparency - organizations are encouraged to make freely available as much relevant data as possible (charts, spreadsheets, tables, etc.); individuals should declare any specific interest or affiliation that may bear on their reviewing and commentin
- Neutrality - Challenging Impact is independent and unbiased. It does not represent any 'side': it creates an opportunity for robust and purposeful debate among all interested parties