Alma Economics was commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to conduct a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) on valuation methods for civil society organisations (CSOs). The aim was to inform how non-market and social outcomes are valued in economic appraisal.

We reviewed 56 studies across sectors including adult learning, advice services, domestic violence, employment and training, faith, food support, fuel poverty, housing and homelessness, health, loneliness, nature, sport, innovation, youth services and youth work. The REA followed a transparent protocol and a structured Research Extraction Sheet (RES) to capture key data.

We examined a range of valuation techniques including cost benefit analysis, social return on investment, cost analysis, contingent valuation, wellbeing valuation, travel cost, and quality adjusted life years. Each paper was assessed for transparency, replicability, use of sensitivity analysis, and treatment of attribution and additionality.

Deliverables included a report detailing our methodology and findings, an interactive Evidence Map, a RES providing further information on the studies included and three case studies proposing potential valuation methods to food banks, job training, and financial advice services provided by the civil society sector.

Access the full report here.