Impact Assessment Accreditation Forum

Strengthening the credibility of impact assessment

A principles-based accreditation framework for impact assessment reports. From instant AI benchmarking to full independent accreditation — helping organisations measure what matters with rigour and honesty.

9
Core PrinciplesFrom purpose clarity to public accountability
4
Accreditation LevelsAI benchmarking through full accreditation
0–10
Scoring RubricTransparent, weighted, principle-by-principle
§8
Section 8 CompanyNot-for-profit, independent, public interest
Most impact assessment reports describe activity, not change. We are building a standard — and a community — that takes impact seriously.
IAAF Founding Principle

Four levels, one standard of rigour

A progressive pathway from instant AI benchmarking to full independent accreditation. Start where you are. Grow as you're ready.

Nine principles for credible assessment

Each principle is a lens, not a checklist item. Together, they define the integrity of an impact assessment process — from design through reporting.

What a benchmarking review looks like

A real impact assessment report scored against the Standard. This is the kind of structured feedback the IAAF accreditation process produces.

Tech Mahindra / MEI Impact Report
CSR contributions to Mahindra Educational Institutions for FY 2023-24. A real-world report assessed against all nine principles of the IAAF Standard.
P1 · Purpose & ToC
5.5
P2 · Context
6.5
P3 · Methodology
6.0
P4 · Materiality
4.5
P5 · Evidence
5.5
P6 · Causality
4.5
P7 · Ethics
4.0
P8 · Learning
5.0
P9 · Transparency
6.5
5.4
Weighted Composite Score
Basic to Moderate Alignment · Not Accredited
Key Finding
Strong on inputs, weak on impact logic

The report demonstrates strong financial and infrastructure reporting (₹66.19 Cr detailed) but lacks the causal architecture that connects these inputs to social outcomes.

No Theory of Change, no counterfactual reasoning, no structured ethical framework. This pattern — excellent output reporting alongside weak outcome logic — is common across CSR impact reports.

Read full analysis →

Ready to strengthen your impact reporting?

Start with a free benchmarking assessment, or explore the Standard to understand what credible impact assessment requires.