Human Impact Pathway

The Human Impact Pathway (HIP) is a not-for-profit social venture developed by LSE IDEAS and supported by the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security. It provides data and guidance for companies, investors and communities to co-design and measure social impact in fragile and high-risk environments. 

Businesses are increasingly working in volatile environments against a background of rapid changes in regulation and legislation, where traditional CSR and ESG approaches are no longer enough, giving rise to reputational, operational and legal risks. These settings—often shaped by conflict, inequality and weak governance—require more than compliance. Businesses need to engage meaningfully with local communities, build trust and deliver real social value. However, many lack the tools to understand their social footprint or to design interventions that are ethical and commercially viable and deliver real value to all stakeholders. The Human Impact Pathway fills this gap by offering solutions that align business strategy with human security principles and local needs.

HIP offers a structured, co-designed approach that supports organisations with impact planning and evaluation. It helps businesses:

• Map their social impact journey using a clear, visual pathway
• Engage meaningfully with local communities and stakeholders
• Align with SDGs, ESG frameworks and human rights standards
• Demonstrate value to investors, regulators and partners

The approach is rooted in the Human Security Business Partnership Framework, trialled by the UN and LSE IDEAS, and ongoing LSE Ideas research which reframes business as a key actor in delivering sustainable development, peace, resilience and social change in a rapidly evolving world order. HIP translates the abstract concept of human security into actionable steps, enabling clients to build trust, manage risks and contribute to sustainable development through locally grounded collaborations with other local stakeholders.  HIP offers last mile data, tailored consultancy, field research and digital tools to support implementation, with a focus on co-creation and local ownership. 

HIP has been applied in diverse contexts, including post-conflict Colombia, mining regions and agro-business in Africa and urban communities in Mexico. It has helped companies improve stakeholder engagement, meet ESG and sustainability goals, and contribute to peacebuilding efforts. By making impact visible and measurable, and capturing local information and dynamics, not available through LLM,  HIP empowers organisations to act responsibly and strategically in complex settings.

HIP is expanding its digital platform to support scalable impact mapping and reporting. It is also developing training modules for corporate teams and local partners, and exploring integration with ESG and SDG reporting frameworks. Pilots are currently underway. 

The following sustainable development goals have been addressed as part of this venture: 3, 5, 8, 10, 11,12 ,16 and 17.