Social Value International are proud to announced that
Agata Fortuna-Uluç of Koç University Social Impact Forum has achieved status as a Level One Associate Practitioner!

Koç University Social Impact Forum (KUSIF) was founded in 2012 within Koç University as a research and practice center on social impact. KUSIF’s starting point is that it’s necessary to conduct social impact measurement, manage social impact and maximize it for the rightful use of resources and success in accounting for value. KUSIF aims to become a “reference point” in social impact studies by working with specialist organizations from different disciplines and executing activities within such a framework. KUSIF’s vision is a Turkish economy in which NGOs, funders, social entrepreneurs, private sector entities not only plan ahead for their social impact but also integrate social impact analysis to their overall work ethic and day-to-day operations.
KUSIF is leading the Turkish Social Impact Group and working to set standards for social impact measurement and management in Turkey. Generating Turkish resources on social impact measurement, creating collaborative networks among civil society, public and private entities are KUSIF’s center activities. Plus, KUSIF designs undergraduate courses on social impact and social entrepreneurship in Koç University and conducts projects to get the campus more sustainable.

Why have you decided to undertake the Social Value International Practitioner Pathway? What has lead to your application for Level 1 of Practitioner?

I have been working in civil society sector since 2009. In 2015 I have joined Koç University Social Impact Forum team and started working on different projects and consultancy aiming to increase the awareness and skills of social impact actors in Turkey on social impact management. The cooperation, support and tools we have been receiving from in this process from the Social Value International encouraged me to undertake the Practitioner Pathway. There is growing need to promote the social value principles and standards among social impact actors and I think that becoming the practitioner also contributes to it.

What did you learn and find useful from this assessment process?

Although social impact and social impact management are part of my work, the process helped me to consolidate my knowledge.

Is there anything that you believe you will gain or find useful in the next steps you will take for working towards becoming an Advanced Practitioner?

I believe that the whole process of becoming the Associate Practitioner helps to gain confidence in applying the principles, analysing and using data. The confidence that encourages decision making and innovation.

Are there any other specific projects you are doing at the moment that are related to SROI/social value?

As KUSIF we are in the process of developing the Social Value Turkey Network. We are motivated to introduce the principles and methodology to wider group of social impact actors in Turkey as we believe that accounting for value can contribute to better use of resources, empower social impact-oriented organizations and result in more positive changes for society and in particular for disadvantageous groups.

We have been using the content of “Maximize Your Impact” guide in many different settings and contexts, including academic course, trainings and consultancy for civil society and we are planning on developing further projects and tools based on its content.

You have now joined a community of practice around the globe. What does this mean to you and why do you want to participate and contribute to the development of the methodology and overall social value movement?

Professionally, have learned a lot from the international community of SVI and I would like to give back to it in order to support further development of social value movement. The positive changes I observe as a result of using – in Turkey still at relatively small scale – the social value principles and guidelines along with the social challenges that we are facing, increase my motivation to be the part of it and contribute to take the movement mainstream and change the way the value is perceived and accounted.

The positive changes I observe as a result of using – in Turkey still at relatively small scale – the social value principles and guidelines along with the social challenges that we are facing, increase my motivation to be the part of it and contribute to take the movement mainstream and change the way the value is perceived and accounted.

Agata Fortuna-Uluç

For more information, please contact Agata Fortuna-Uluç, Project and Training Senior Specialist at afortuna@ku.edu.tr