HARMONIZING DEVELOPMENT & BUSINESS INDICATORS TOOL: HOW-TO GUIDE

The HI Tool maps existing business-relevant indicators from environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks to standard U.S. Foreign Assistance Standardized Program Structure and Definitions (SPSD) Indicators used by USAID, and to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG). This mapping enables mutual understanding and fosters increased engagement opportunities between USAID and private sector partners. The HI Tool is suitable for use by USAID staff and any private sector professional or organization with interest in engagement, joint monitoring, and increased understanding of the motivation, monitoring, and evaluation processes across organizations, companies, and sectors. Businesses are increasingly interested in measuring socio-economic impacts, opportunities, and risks in relation to overall success, and in particular, financial sustainability. ESG frameworks help investors and companies in the measurement of their company or portfolio performance, as well as the identification of business-relevant indicators in such areas as health, energy, labor, and economic growth. The HI Tool was developed by the Pulte Institute for Global Development at the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame in collaboration with USAID. The tool maps indicators from various ESG frameworks, including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), Business Call to Action (BCtA), and Global Impact Investing Network's IRIS+, among others. The HI Tool also incorporates the UN SDG as a guide for ESG strategies. To access the HI Tool, users can visit the website at https://harmonizing-indicators.crc.nd.edu/#. The tool allows users to filter indicators against various categories, including U.S. Foreign Assistance SPSD categories, SPSD program area, engagement objective/subject area, business indicator source, and UN SDG. Users can also search for specific indicators using the search bar. The HI Tool provides a comprehensive dataset of indicators that can be downloaded in CSV format. The HI Tool is designed to facilitate engagement opportunities between USAID and private sector partners. By providing a common framework for understanding and measuring socio-economic impacts, the HI Tool enables users to better understand partner motivations, recognize common monitoring needs, and identify engagement opportunities. The tool is an essential resource for USAID staff, private sector professionals, and organizations interested in private sector engagement in global development.