In the Oslo Barometer is a project launched by the City of Oslo to measure and link the result of the inclusion and integration policies and the impact these have on society.

Social impact aims are set in the goals and vision of the City master plan, as well as in the criteria for grant schemes for inclusion and integration.

Starting from there, each inclusion and integration project has to develop its own indicators at the level of the expected results and outcomes, while the indicators for social impact come directly from the municipal plans and grant schemes for inclusion and integration.

Using the methodology of the measurement tool “SoImpact”, a causal link is made between the results of actions and projects, the positive outcomes these have had on the target group, and the more long-term impact on inclusion and integration, up to lasting social change.

The idea for the Oslo Barometer was launched by the former Vice mayor for inclusion, Geir Lippestad, at the meeting place Inclusion Days led by SoCentral, an incubator and a network for social innovation and entrepreneurship.

The idea was further developed by master students in political science at the University of Oslo, in collaboration with SoCentral and Oslo Municipality.

The barometer has been tested by organisations, social entrepreneurs and municipal agencies connected to SoCentral’s Inclusion Days.

The SoImpact measuring tool was previously tested in the Boost Refugee programme, where social entrepreneurs received professional and financial support for measures to give refugees jobs.

Two of the five projects in the programme were led by former refugees.

The municipality recommends that all projects receiving municipal grants, develop methods for measuring results and participate in common arenas for exchange of knowledge.

By launching the Oslo Barometer, the city aims to give civil sector’s projects and social entrepreneurs the tools to prove their value to inclusion and positive urban change. This in turn gives greater value to the effectiveness of municipal inclusion policies and grant schemes, and to the co-operation between municipal services and civil society projects.