The Executive Committee of the Principles publishes an updated version of the Harmonised Framework for Impact Reporting for Social Bonds
25 September 2024 This handbook outlines core principles and recommendations for reporting to provide issuers with a reference as they develop their own reporting. In 2024, the Impact Reporting Working Group started work on adding core and other impact reporting metrics and sector specific guidance for each of the project categories referenced in the Social Bond Principles (SBP), starting with Affordable Housing. While this document does not, at this stage, cover detailed impact reporting on all other SBP categories, the authors of this document acknowledge the importance of alignment and harmonisation also for such projects, for which additional suitable indicators will be developed in the future.
Social Bonds are bond instruments aligned with the four core principles of the SBP where the proceeds are exclusively applied to finance or re-finance eligible social projects. These are projects with the objective to address or mitigate specific social issues and/or seek to achieve positive social outcomes especially, but not exclusively for a target population(s). Transparency and reporting are critical to developing a robust Social Bond market and to maintaining the integrity of the market.
Compared to the past versions, the 2024 edition of the Harmonised Framework for Impact Reporting for Social Bonds fully duplicates the Core Principles and Recommendations for Reporting that are described in the Handbook Harmonised Framework for Impact Reporting for Green Bonds, enabling issuers to provide the market with standardised practices.
The handbook also includes an illustrative list of quantitative social indicators that may be considered.
Download Handbook - Harmonised Framework for Impact Reporting for Social Bonds
A template in the form of an excel file can also be downloaded here.
