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The Social Return on Investment Report of Kaohsiung Rural Regeneration Program

The Social Return on Investment Report of Kaohsiung Rural Regeneration Program

Executive Summary

This Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis evaluates the Rural Regeneration Program promoted by the Agriculture Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government (ABKCG). The study assesses the social value created for the main stakeholders—including community residents, community volunteers, local producers and merchants, community organizations, and government departments—across the three participating communities: Liugui Xinfa, Yong’an Xingang, and Qishan Tangchang.

The objectives of this evaluation are threefold:

  • Understand the actual changes experienced by stakeholders: Identify and analyze both positive and negative, expected and unintended changes resulting from participation in the Rural Regeneration Program.
  • Measure the societal value of these changes: Monetize outcomes to reflect their contribution to personal well-being and the broader development of the community.
  • Clarify overall impact and improvement potential: Provide ABKCG with evidence-based insights to guide future resource allocation, strategy optimization, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.

According to the results, each NT$1 invested in the Rural Regeneration Program generates approximately NT$2.57 in social value. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the overall SROI ratio falls within a range of 1.00 to 3.57, reflecting both efficient resource utilization and robust social impact.

The program outcomes align with the core goals of building communities that are “livable,” “workable,” and “tourism-friendly.”

  • Community Residents: Reported substantial improvements in quality of life, including a Strengthened Sense of Belonging (26.01%), Enhanced Sense of Tranquillity (23.79%), and Increased Perceptions of Safety (20.22%) through reduced residential risks. These results reinforce the “liveable” objective of rural regeneration, highlighting enhanced everyday comfort and security.
  • Local Producers and Merchants: Experienced Increased Revenue (2.16%) of total social value, demonstrating tangible outcomes to rural industries and local employment opportunities, supporting the “workable” dimension of regeneration.
  • Planet (Earth): Outcomes such as environmental quality improvement, waste reduction, resource recycling, water and electricity savings, and expansion of green areas and friendly farming accounted for 1.21% of total social value, aligning with long-term environmental sustainability goals.
  • Community Associations: Achieved results in Increased Community Income (1.76%), Strengthened External Recognition (1.24%), and Increased Visibility (1.85%), contributing a total of 4.85% of overall social value. These outcomes reflect stronger community branding, improved reputation, and tourism attraction, supporting the “tourism-friendly” policy direction of rural regeneration.
  • Community Volunteers: Outcomes included Expanded Interpersonal Relationships (1.06%), Increased Sense of Belonging (0.90%), and Enhanced Sense of Accomplishment (0.95%), collectively contributing about 5.17% of total social value. Volunteers strengthened their social networks, sense of acceptance, and personal meaning through program participation, laying the foundation for long-term community cohesion and volunteer retention.

Key Outcomes by Stakeholder:

  • Local Producers and Merchants (2.16%): Increased Revenue emerged as the most economically significant outcome. With an average two-year duration, this directly strengthens the local economy and provides sustained benefits to rural industries.
  • Community Residents (85.64%): Outcomes such as Strengthened Sense of Belonging, Enhanced Sense of Tranquillity, and Increased Perceptions of Safety collectively represent the most substantial share of overall social value. Each has an average two-year impact period, demonstrating strong alignment with the goal of creating a liveable rural environment.
  • Community Associations (4.85%): Outcomes in Increased Visibility and Strengthened External Recognition highlight organizational strengthening, enabling better access to external resources and partnerships.
  • Community Volunteers (5.17%): Outcomes in Expanded Interpersonal Relationships, Sense of Being Needed, and Enhanced Sense of Accomplishment show improvements in psychosocial well-being and community connection.
  • Planet (Earth) (1.21%): Achievements in Environmental Quality Improvement demonstrate the program’s contribution to sustainability through ecological conservation, green space creation, and friendly farming practices.

The SROI analysis confirms that the Rural Regeneration Program delivers tangible, wide-ranging, and enduring outcomes across multiple dimensions: personal well-being, social cohesion, industrial development, and environmental sustainability. The value created not only echoes national policy goals but also provides ABKCG with a quantitative foundation to optimize future rural regeneration strategies.

Recommendations emphasize three priorities: (1) establish feedback and adaptive management for unexpected outcomes, (2) design tiered strategies to extend long-term results and address short-term risks, and (3) optimize efficiency by prioritizing low-deadweight, high-attribution outcomes.

By institutionalizing these measures, the Agriculture Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government (ABKCG) can strengthen responsiveness, avoid one-size-fits-all planning, and maximize sustainable social value. This positions Kaohsiung as a potential global model for how SROI-informed governance can translate public investment into lasting community resilience and wellbeing.

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