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Case Study

Accenture CSR Study —

Impact Assessment of EDII’s MEDP in Rural India.

Background

As part of its Skills to Succeed initiative, Accenture committed to empowering women and underserved communities by enabling sustainable livelihoods across India. Recognizing the need for structured skill development and entrepreneurship support in rural regions, Accenture funded the Micro Entrepreneurship Development Program (MEDP).

The program was implemented by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII)—a nationally recognized institution with decades of experience in grassroots entrepreneurship development. EDII delivered MEDP trainings across five southern states and one Union Territory, focusing primarily on women and youth from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Given the scale, diversity, and long-term objectives of the program, Accenture required a credible, independent CSR impact assessment in rural India to evaluate whether its CSR funding was translating into sustainable enterprises, improved incomes, and meaningful social transformation. ResearchnConsulting was engaged to conduct a comprehensive financial and social impact assessment of the MEDP initiative.

Challenge

Assessing the real-world impact of a large-scale CSR initiative required going beyond surface-level metrics and capturing both financial performance and human development outcomes. The key challenges we addressed were:

Measuring the sustainability of micro-enterprises established by MEDP-trained participants across multiple states.
Evaluating financial outcomes, including income growth, asset creation, and access to formal finance.
Assessing social impact indicators such as women’s confidence, household decision-making, education outcomes, and social status.
Capturing reliable data from rural and semi-urban beneficiaries, many with limited formal documentation.
Providing Accenture with clear, defensible evidence of CSR ROI to support impact reporting and strategic decision-making.

Our Solution

ResearchnConsulting designed and executed a rigorous, independent impact assessment framework tailored to Accenture’s CSR objectives and EDII’s program structure. Our approach included:

Conducting a multi-state CSR impact assessment covering Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Puducherry.
Engaging 1,018 MEDP-trained beneficiaries through structured surveys and in-depth field interactions.
Evaluating both financial impact metrics (enterprise survival, income changes, asset ownership, job creation) and social impact metrics (confidence levels, household participation, education spending, social recognition).
Comparing pre- and post-MEDP conditions to measure tangible improvements attributable to the program.
Combining quantitative analysis with qualitative insights to deliver a holistic view of program effectiveness.

Outcome

The impact assessment revealed strong, measurable outcomes across financial stability, social empowerment, and enterprise sustainability:

93% of MEDP-supported enterprises remained operational, demonstrating high long-term sustainability.
Average monthly household income increased from approximately ₹11,000 to ₹19,000.
Significant asset creation, including improved housing conditions, ownership of two-wheelers, and household appliances.
Over 75% of beneficiaries were able to invest more in children’s education, including private schooling.
68% of participants reported improved access to credit, reflecting increased trust from banks and financial institutions.
97% of beneficiaries experienced enhanced social status and self-confidence, with greater participation in household and financial decision-making.
Strong evidence of women’s empowerment, with beneficiaries becoming role models and motivators within their communities.

Conclusion

Through this independent CSR impact assessment in rural India, ResearchnConsulting enabled Accenture to validate the real-world outcomes of its CSR funding under the Skills to Succeed initiative. The study confirmed that EDII’s implementation of the MEDP program successfully translated CSR investments into sustainable enterprises, rising incomes, and deep social transformation.

By delivering clear, credible, and actionable insights, ResearchnConsulting helped Accenture strengthen accountability, demonstrate measurable ROI on CSR funding, and reinforce its brand as a leader in inclusive growth, women empowerment, and rural entrepreneurship in India.

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