Background: In today’s food system, one-third of all food produced for human consumption ends up as loss or waste, yet one in five people globally faces hunger. Food rescue organisations address these issues by redistributing surplus food from retailers to people in need. Research indicates that food rescue organisations create social, environmental, and social impacts for various stakeholders, including retailers and governments. Despite their significant role, these organisations are often seen merely as charitable services. This perception results in them bearing disproportionate logistical and financial burdens, mainly relying on food donations and volunteer labour. To alter this narrative, food rescue organisations must prove their effectiveness in achieving their social mission and demonstrate their value to funders and investors. This thesis aims to systematically evaluate the social impact of food rescue organisations, contributing to the field of impact evaluation and offering practical insights for enhancing the operational effectiveness of food rescue organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Approach: This thesis comprises two research studies: the AFRA Impact Project and the Food Recipient Study, each addressing specific research questions: 1) What is the relationship between food rescue activities and stakeholder outcomes? (AFRA Impact Project: Part One); 2) How can food rescue stakeholder outcomes be valued more objectively? (AFRA Impact Project: Part Two); and 3) What social impacts do food rescue activities have on individuals directly receiving rescued food? (Food Recipient Study). The AFRA Impact Project employed a mixed-methods case study approach. Part one involved qualitative interviews with key stakeholders to understand the changes in their lives resulting from food rescue activities and to identify outcomes. Part two applied an SROI analysis to value and quantify these stakeholder outcomes. The second study employed a cross-sectional approach, administering a structured survey at a single point in time to explore the relationship between food rescue efforts and food recipient outcomes.

Key Findings: The AFRA Impact Project identified 19 stakeholder outcomes, reflecting the social, environmental, and economic impacts of food rescue activities. These outcomes include an increased connection to social support services for food recipients, an increased sense of satisfaction among volunteers through helping others and contributing to a meaningful cause, a reduced environmental impact for food donors, and an increased organisational capacity for

recipient organisations. The SROI analysis revealed that an investment of $2,182,381 during the 2020 to 2021 financial year generated $9,791,890 of social, environmental, and economic value for stakeholders, resulting in a ratio of 4.5:1. This ratio indicates that $4.50 of value was created for stakeholders for every $1.00 invested in food rescue organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand. Moreover, the findings highlighted that food rescue efforts had the most significant impact on improving food recipients' access to a variety of free food, accounting for 75% of the total impact. The findings from the Food Recipient Study highlighted the prevalence of food insecurity among food recipients (72% experienced high food insecurity) and identified positive relationships between food rescue efforts, food security and broader outcomes related to nutrition, health, social connectedness, and well-being. This study provides essential preliminary evidence for future research to explore the broader social implications of food rescue organisations in addressing food security and enhancing well-being.

Contributions: This thesis offers significant contributions to both academic research and the operational practices of food rescue organisations through methodological innovation, theoretical development, empirical evidence, and practical application. This research introduces a refined SROI protocol specifically adapted for evaluating the impact of food rescue organisations. The protocol integrates a case study approach, providing a robust tool for demonstrating the social impact of the food rescue sector in Aotearoa New Zealand. This thesis presents a comprehensive theoretical framework based on the Theory of Change. This framework illustrates potential causal links between food rescue activities and stakeholder outcomes, enhancing the understanding of how these generate various social impacts. Empirically, this thesis provides foundational evidence on the relationship between food rescue efforts and food recipient outcomes. These findings offer insights into how food rescue impacts food security, nutrition, health, social connectedness, and overall well-being, providing valuable data for future studies and policy development. The findings from the SROI analysis offer a practical tool for food rescue organisations to demonstrate their social impact. Additionally, the research provides actionable insights that can help these organisations improve their operations, strengthen their strategic positioning, and engage more effectively with stakeholders.