Work Package 7, led by University of Malta, targets the development of a KPI-based toolkit and roadmap for the implementation of NBS interventions.

Specifically, within WP7, Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology was applied across the seven VARCITIES pilot sites in T7.5 to assess the forecasted social impact of each intervention during the first year after project completion. By combining stakeholder engagement, literature review, and secondary data, the study identified and monetised key social outcomes using financial proxies, even for benefits without market value. This allowed for a comprehensive calculation of the social value created, adjusted for external factors to ensure accuracy. D7.5 contained the detailed analysis per pilot.

Executive Summary

Deliverable 7.5 presents the findings of the Social Return on Investment (SROI) analyses conducted across the seven VARCITIES pilot sites: Castelfranco Veneto (Italy), Chania (Greece), Dundalk (Ireland), Gzira (Malta), Leuven (Belgium), Novo Mesto (Slovenia), and Skellefteå (Sweden). The aim of this deliverable is to assess the forecasted social value generated by each site’s Visionary Solutions (VS) during the first year following the end of the project, providing a structured and transparent understanding of the broader socio-economic impact.

The SROI methodology enables the estimation of the social value created by interventions by capturing both tangible outputs and intangible outcomes for beneficiaries. It builds on intensive stakeholder engagement and a review of relevant literature and secondary data to identify significant changes attributed to each VS. Through financial proxies, even non-market outcomes were assigned monetary values, and adjustment factors were applied to avoid overestimation of impacts (e.g., deadweight, attribution, displacement).

Each pilot site’s analysis followed a consistent approach: mapping stakeholders, identifying expected changes, collecting local and contextual data, and valuing outcomes to calculate a site-specific SROI ratio. These findings are not only valuable for understanding the added social value of the implemented Visionary Solutions, but they also serve to inform future planning, funding, and upscaling strategies.

Overall, the SROI analyses confirm that VARCITIES interventions contribute positively to community well-being, inclusivity, and urban resilience. They demonstrate how nature-based, digital, and socio-cultural innovations can deliver meaningful returns in terms of improved health, social cohesion, accessibility, and environmental quality. This deliverable offers evidence-based insights to guide policymakers, city planners, and stakeholders in developing and evaluating people-centred urban transformation.

This Deliverable is not yet approved, as such the full deliverable is not available to the public.