Practice Papers
About the Practice Paper Series
The Institute for Social Capital publishes Practice Papers to advance understanding of social capital in ways that are both conceptually robust and practically useful. The series is intended to support decision-makers, practitioners, and institutions working in complex social contexts where long-term performance, legitimacy, and collective action matter.
ISC Practice Papers are not opinion pieces or promotional material. They are carefully developed reference documents that bridge research, governance, and applied experience. Each paper addresses a specific conceptual or practical challenge related to social capital and offers a structured way of thinking about its implications for policy, projects, organisations, and institutions.
What distinguishes an ISC Practice Paper
ISC Practice Papers share several defining characteristics:
- They are problem-driven, focusing on real governance and decision challenges rather than abstract theory alone.
- They are lens-based, offering ways of seeing social capital and its effects over time, rather than prescribing fixed solutions.
- They are assessment- and governance-oriented, designed to inform judgement under uncertainty rather than to predict or optimise outcomes.
- They are complementary, intended to extend existing frameworks and practices rather than replace them.
- They are durable, written to remain relevant beyond immediate policy cycles or project contexts.
Together, these features position the Practice Paper Series as a resource for sustained learning and application, rather than one-off commentary.
Who the Practice Papers are for
The Practice Paper Series is written for:
- policy-makers and public sector leaders
- infrastructure and project decision-makers
- impact assessment, planning, and governance practitioners
- organisational leaders managing social risk and legitimacy
- funders and institutions concerned with long-term outcomes
While the papers draw on established research, they are written to be accessible to practitioners and decision-makers without requiring specialist academic training.
How the Practice Papers are intended to be used
ISC Practice Papers are designed to be:
- read as standalone reference documents,
- cited in policy, planning, and assessment contexts,
- used as discussion inputs for workshops and decision processes, and
- adapted thoughtfully to specific institutional and cultural settings.
They are published under Creative Commons licensing to encourage learning, discussion, and responsible reuse.
Current Practice Papers
ISC Practice Paper No. 1
Social Capital Impact Assessment (SCIA)
Using Social Capital as a Lens for Long-Term Impact
This paper introduces Social Capital Impact Assessment (SCIA) as a governance-relevant approach to understanding how decisions shape future social capacity. It explains why social capital matters for long-term impact, how it can be used as an assessment lens, and how that lens can be applied in practice in ways that align with established impact assessment processes.
About the Institute for Social Capital
The Institute for Social Capital is an independent research and practice organisation dedicated to advancing understanding of social capital and its role in social, economic, and institutional outcomes. The Institute works across research, policy, and applied settings to support more effective stewardship of social capital in practice.
Engagement and feedback
The Institute welcomes engagement with the Practice Paper Series. Readers interested in discussing application, contributing feedback, or exploring future topics are invited to engage with the Institute for Social Capital.
