The Social Return on Investment Assessment of the Bangkaew Model Research Project: Achieving Poverty Reduction Through Local Fisheries

Abstract

This research article aims to 1) present the Bangkaew Model Research Project: Achieving Poverty Reduction Through Local Fisheries, and 2) evaluate the social return on investment (SROI) of the Bangkaew Model Research Project: Achieving Poverty Reduction Through Local Fisheries. Data were collected through observations, interviews, focus group discussions, and forums with key informants. Relevant documents and research were reviewed, along with the framework and tools for SROI assessment. The analysis focused on key performance indicators to measure the project’s return on investment, with results presented in tabular form and descriptive narratives.

The findings revealed that the Bangkaew Model Research Project: Achieving Poverty Reduction Through Local Fisheries received a budget of 1,100,000 baht from the Program Management Unit on Area Based Development (PMU A) under the Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) for the fiscal year 2023, with a project duration of one year. The research objectives were: 1) to develop an operational model tailored to the capabilities of the target poor population and aligned with the local context; and 2) to increase the income and improve social mobility of impoverished households by integrating target groups into a pro-poor value chain. The SROI assessment upon project completion found a net present value of 645,022.35 baht, with an SROI of 1.59. This indicates that every 1 baht invested in the project generated a return of 1.59 baht to society, signifying a high return on investment. The project’s outcomes created positive changes in four dimensions: human, physical, economic, and social. The three key success factors of the project were participation, networks, and cooperative mechanisms.