The Value Balancing Alliance (VBA) and the Social Impact Management Initiative (SIMI) are partnering to drive Impact Accounting to the next level in Japan. Both organizations signed an MoU to organize and host events informing the Japanese Corporate and Financial Community and supporting mutually research projects and their uptake by Japanese Businesses.
SIMI is mandated as a preferred point of contact by VBA to inform and advise Japanese companies and financial institutions about the impact accounting methodologies co-developed and standardized by the International Foundation for Valuating Impacts (IFVI), VBA, and its partners, and the possibilities to engage in research projects of VBA.
Christian Heller, CEO of the VBA sees a huge momentum for the measuring and valuation of impact in Japan supported heavily from the Japanese Government: “The impact economy requests a new understanding of sustainable value creation and performance: Natural, social, and human capital need to be taken into account next to financial capital. The international development around impact accounting is one cornerstone to drive the objectives of the Impact Consortium initiated and promoted by the Japanese government. We are looking forward to partnering with SIMI to test and mainstream impact in Japan.”
Katsuji Imata, President of SIMI, underlines the opportunity for Japanese financial institutions and companies to shape the development of impact accounting: “While already delivering a complete framework there are still many opportunities to engage and shape the development in a way that Japanese frontrunners can benefit most from. SIMI is happy to build bridges to this international movement that will bring impact investments to the next stage. ”
Ken Shibusawa, founder of Shibusawa & Co, Chair of the GSG Impact Japan an Vice-Chair of the Impact Consortium , who is closely connected as adviser/councilor to both organizations wholeheartedly welcomes the partnership: “Many corporations and financial institutions in Japan have shown strong interest in the concept of impact accounting, a multi-dimensional approach of expressing sustainable corporate value, that is not just limited to financial performance but integrates solutions to externalities (environmental and social issues) that were being left behind by traditional methodologies. This partnership will certainly open more doors of interest and participation in this exciting innovation of expressing corporate value creation for a better world.”
signing ceremony at VBA office
signing ceremony at VBA office
The Value Balancing Alliance (VBA) is an independent and non-profit member association organized under German law founded with the ambition of changing the way company performance is measured and valued so as to enable decision makers to act consciously. Following this goal the VBA develops together with the International Foundation for Valuing Impacts (IFVI) an impact accounting methodology, tests this methodology with its members and advocates for it among policymakers and framework-setters.
