India's Trusted
Socio-Economic Survey
& Social Research Partner
Consultivo is an independent socio economic survey company with 14+ years of experience designing and delivering social surveys, baseline studies, need assessments and impact evaluations for development projects, corporates and community programmes — across India and internationally.
survey experience
covered
approved
powered
Seven social research services —
built around your project lifecycle
As one of the specialist research companies in India working in the ESG and community space, we design every engagement around your specific objectives, communities and reporting requirements.
Need Assessment Survey
A structured socio-economic study to identify community needs, gaps and priorities before a project or programme begins. Informs project design and resource allocation decisions.
Baseline Survey & Study
Establishes the pre-intervention social, economic and demographic benchmark for a project community. An essential reference point for measuring change over the life of a project.
Socio-Economic Survey
A comprehensive socioeconomic survey of a defined community or project-affected area — covering livelihoods, household income, health, education, housing, access to services and social dynamics.
Stakeholder Mapping & Engagement Study
Identifies and categorises all project-affected and project-interested parties. Assesses their influence, concerns and expectations — essential for consent and conflict-risk management.
Mid-term Review & Progress Survey
Tracks progress against baseline indicators mid-way through a project. Identifies implementation challenges and enables evidence-based course correction.
End-line Evaluation & Impact Assessment
Measures final project outcomes against the baseline — quantifying social, economic and community development impact. A credible, independently conducted impact study.
Social Return on Investment (SROI)
Translates social and community impact data into a financial value ratio — demonstrating the economic worth generated for every rupee invested in CSR or community programmes.
CSR Reporting, Disclosure and Communication
CSR report that resonates with your stakeholders and meets India’s compliance guidelines. Partner with Consultivo to transform your data into clear, compelling impact stories.
What makes our survey services
different from the rest
Unlike generic survey agencies that collect data without context, Consultivo brings together field research capability, domain expertise and AI-powered analytics — all under one roof.
Deep industry & community knowledge
Our research teams have ground-level experience across manufacturing, mining, energy, infrastructure and community development — not just survey administration skills.
ESGSlate AI analytics platform
Our proprietary platform manages data collection, validation, statistical analysis and visualisation — delivering faster, more accurate findings with real-time quality control.
IFC & international standard alignment
As an IFC World Bank Group approved consultant, our socio-economic survey methodology is designed to meet the most stringent development finance institution requirements.
Rigorous methodology, tailored instruments
Every questionnaire, interview guide and observation tool is custom-built for your project — validated by subject matter experts, not adapted from a generic template.
Data visualisation & actionable reporting
Our ESG research and analytics capabilities mean your findings are presented visually, clearly and in a format ready for boards, investors and public disclosure.
Remote, on-site or blended engagement
We offer full flexibility — field-based teams, digital survey platforms, or a combination of both — to match your project's geography, budget and timeline.
A structured approach built on
sound research principles
Every Consultivo socio economic survey follows a rigorous, step-by-step process aligned to international standards and our own social research methodology. Here is a summary — follow the link for the full detail on our social research steps.
Research Objectives
Define research questions, scope and success criteria with the client.
Stakeholder Mapping
Identify and categorise all relevant community and project stakeholders.
Methodology Design
Select data collection methods, sampling strategy and analytical framework.
Tool Development
Design and validate questionnaires, interview guides and FGD protocols.
Data Collection
Field surveys, interviews, FGDs and secondary research — on-site or remote.
Statistical Analysis
Quantitative and qualitative analysis powered by the ESGSlate platform.
Interpretation
Findings contextualised by domain experts against benchmarks and norms.
Report & Recommendations
Research report, dashboard and action plan delivered in clear, usable format.
Want the full detail of our data collection design, sampling approach and quality controls?
Read the Full Methodology →How we collect data —
quantitative, qualitative and mixed
Our social survey methodology uses a combination of primary research methods tailored to the project context, community type and data requirements.
Structured Questionnaire Survey
Household and individual surveys using validated, pre-coded questionnaires for large-scale socioeconomic data collection.
QuantitativeKey Informant Interviews (KII)
In-depth interviews with community leaders, officials and subject experts to capture contextual, qualitative perspectives.
QualitativeFocus Group Discussions (FGD)
Structured group discussions with community segments — women, youth, farmers, workers — to explore shared experiences and perceptions.
QualitativeDirect Observation
Systematic on-site observation of community conditions, infrastructure, land use and livelihood activities.
PrimaryDigital & Mobile Data Collection
CAPI-based surveys using tablets and smartphones with GPS tagging — enabling real-time data sync and quality monitoring via ESGSlate.
QuantitativeOnline & Remote Surveys
Digital surveys for employee studies, stakeholder perception surveys and multi-geography data collection — managed and monitored remotely.
MixedParticipatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)
Community-led mapping, ranking and timeline exercises that surface local knowledge and social dynamics not captured by formal surveys.
ParticipatorySecondary & Desktop Research
Review of published reports, government data, census records and academic literature to complement primary field findings.
SecondaryGrounded in internationally
recognised codes & guidelines
Consultivo's social surveys and sustainability research are designed in full alignment with the frameworks that matter most to development financiers, regulators and investors. This ensures your research is credible, comparable and accepted globally.
IFC Performance Standards (PS1–PS8)
The gold standard for social and environmental assessment in development projects. PS1 directly governs stakeholder engagement and socio-economic impact assessment methodology.
UNDP Evaluation Guidelines & UNEG Norms
UN Evaluation Group norms and standards for evaluation quality, independence and utility. Guides our evaluation design, data quality and reporting approach.
ILO Labour Standards & Decent Work Indicators
International Labour Organisation conventions and statistical guidelines governing research into employment, occupational safety, child labour and workforce conditions.
ADB Safeguard Policy & Social Impact Assessment
Asian Development Bank safeguard requirements for involuntary resettlement, indigenous peoples and environmental and social assessment — relevant for infrastructure projects.
GRI 400 Series — Social Standards
Global Reporting Initiative social standards covering employment, labour practices, human rights and community impact — informing our social survey indicator framework.
OECD Guidelines & UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights
Frameworks for human rights due diligence, grievance mechanisms and community consultation — integrated into our stakeholder engagement study design.
India CSR Rules, Companies Act 2013 & NVGs
MCA's CSR provisions and National Voluntary Guidelines on Social, Environmental & Economic Responsibilities — governing CSR project surveys and impact measurement in India.
ISO 26000 — Social Responsibility Guidance
International guidance on community involvement, human development and stakeholder identification — used to structure our social survey thematic areas and community engagement protocols.
We serve a wide range of
organisations across sectors
Our social survey services support diverse client types — from major infrastructure developers and DFI-funded companies to CSR teams, NGOs and government bodies.
Infrastructure & Development Project Companies
Companies implementing road, power, port, dam and industrial corridor projects requiring IFC/ADB-compliant social assessments.
CSR & Corporate Sustainability Teams
Corporates managing community development programmes under India's Companies Act CSR mandate and seeking credible impact evidence.
Government & Public Sector Bodies
State and central government departments, PSUs and development authorities requiring socioeconomic surveys for policy design and programme evaluation.
NGOs & Development Organisations
Non-governmental organisations managing donor-funded community development, health, education and livelihood programmes needing evaluation support.
Investors & Financial Institutions
Responsible investors, private equity funds and development finance institutions conducting social and ESG due diligence on portfolio companies and projects.
Mining, Energy & Extractives
Mining, oil & gas and energy companies with significant community footprints requiring ongoing social monitoring, engagement and impact measurement.
Survey thematic areas we cover
Our socio economic surveys and social research studies cover a wide range of development and community themes. Each is investigated through a domain-informed lens, not a generic questionnaire template.
On-site, remote or blended —
we work where you need us
As experienced survey companies in India, we offer complete flexibility in how research is conducted — from full field deployment to fully remote digital surveys.
On-site Field Research
Trained field teams deployed to project locations across India and internationally — collecting primary data directly from communities.
- Household-level surveys with GPS tagging
- Face-to-face interviews & FGDs
- Direct community observation
- Participatory rural appraisal methods
- Village & community-level mapping
Remote & Digital Survey
Fully digital research for multi-location, time-sensitive or cost-efficient projects — managed through our ESGSlate platform.
- Online questionnaire platforms
- Virtual KIIs & FGDs via video
- CAPI & mobile data collection
- Real-time response monitoring
- Secondary & desktop research
Blended Model
The most common and robust approach — combining field presence with digital efficiency for deeper, more credible results.
- Field survey + online stakeholder polling
- Remote analytics + on-site workshops
- Phased primary and secondary research
- Continuous remote quality monitoring
- Joint field team + client partner operations
What you receive at
the end of a project
Every Consultivo survey project delivers a comprehensive, decision-ready set of outputs — designed for boards, programme managers, funders and public disclosure equally.
- ✓Full research report — objectives, methodology, findings, analysis and conclusions
- ✓Management dashboard with charts, infographics and visual data summaries
- ✓Statistical analysis tables with interpretation and commentary
- ✓Recommendations and prioritised action plan
- ✓Executive summary for boards and senior leadership
- ✓Indicator matrix aligned to IFC, GRI or BRSR as applicable
- ✓Raw data set and codebook (where applicable)
- ✓Presentation deck for stakeholder workshops or funder reporting
Part of Consultivo's broader Research & Analytics practice
Social and socio-economic surveys are one service within Consultivo's full ESG research and analytics practice. We also offer ESG analytics, materiality assessments, BRSR benchmarking, safety culture surveys and sector research reports — all powered by the ESGSlate AI platform. As leading research companies in India in the ESG space, we bring analytical rigour to every project.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Common questions about our social survey services
Answers to the questions we hear most often from project developers, CSR teams and development organisations.
What is a socio-economic survey and when is it required?
A socio-economic survey is a structured study of the social and economic conditions of a community — covering livelihoods, income, health, education, housing, access to services and social dynamics. It is typically required before a development project begins (as a baseline), during implementation (as a progress review) and at close-out (as an impact evaluation). Most development finance institutions — including IFC, ADB and bilateral donors — require a credible socio-economic survey from an independent survey company as part of their environmental and social due diligence.
How is Consultivo different from other survey companies in India?
Most survey agencies focus purely on data collection. Consultivo brings three additional layers: (1) domain expertise — our teams understand the industry, sector and community context, not just survey administration; (2) ESGSlate AI platform — our proprietary technology for data management, analysis and visualisation gives our findings a level of accuracy and visual clarity that generic firms cannot match; and (3) IFC approval — as an IFC World Bank Group approved independent consultant, our methodology and outputs are accepted by international development financiers. See our full ESG research and analytics practice for the broader context.
How long does a socio-economic survey typically take?
Timeline depends on the scope, sample size and geographic spread. A focused community-level baseline survey typically takes six to ten weeks from instrument design to final report. Large-scale multi-village or multi-district studies will take longer — typically twelve to sixteen weeks. We provide a detailed, week-by-week work plan at the proposal stage. Remote and digital surveys can be completed faster — sometimes within four to six weeks.
What standards does Consultivo's survey methodology follow?
Our socio-economic survey methodology aligns with IFC Performance Standards (especially PS1 on Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks), UNDP Evaluation Guidelines, ILO labour and decent work indicators, ADB Safeguard Policy requirements, GRI 400 Social Standards, ISO 26000, and Indian CSR Rules under the Companies Act 2013. See our full standards section above and the detailed social research methodology page.
What is the difference between a baseline survey and a need assessment?
A need assessment identifies what a community lacks, what problems exist and what interventions are most relevant — it informs project design. A baseline survey quantifies the current state of key indicators (income, literacy, health status, etc.) so that change can be measured after an intervention. In practice, both studies are often conducted simultaneously at project inception — they are complementary but serve different purposes. Consultivo can design and deliver both as part of a single integrated study.
Does Consultivo conduct surveys in rural, tribal and remote locations?
Yes. We have extensive experience conducting household surveys, FGDs and community consultations in rural, peri-urban and tribal areas across India — including scheduled tribe areas, forest fringe communities and resettlement sites. Our field teams are experienced in working with local language requirements, community sensitivities and the logistical challenges of remote locations. We also use CAPI-based digital tools with offline capability for areas with limited connectivity.
Can Consultivo work alongside our NGO or CSR implementing partner?
Yes — and we recommend it. Having an independent survey agency conduct the research while the implementing partner continues programme delivery ensures objectivity and credibility in your findings. Consultivo regularly operates as the independent research arm alongside NGOs, implementation agencies and community-based organisations. We can also provide capacity-building support to partner field staff on data collection protocols.
What does SROI mean and do we need it?
SROI — Social Return on Investment — is a framework for measuring and communicating the value of social, economic and environmental outcomes relative to investment. It answers the question: for every rupee spent on this community programme, how much social value was created? An SROI study is increasingly requested by corporate sustainability teams, investors and reporting frameworks such as BRSR as evidence of CSR impact. Consultivo conducts SROI analysis as a standalone service or as an extension of an end-line impact evaluation.
Request For Proposal (RFP)
Let's Start Your Project
Tell us about your survey requirement
Whether you need a community baseline, a CSR impact study or a full socio-economic survey — our team will respond within one working day with an initial project outline.
