This month, there has been plenty of news and research in outcomes based commissioning and social impact bonds. We have gathered news and insights from a range of perspectives – here is May’s policy briefing. If you would like to share any news with us please contact Grace on grace.young@bsg.ox.ac.uk
Investors need rigorous assessments of Social Impact Bonds- A major investor highlights the vital role that research and evaluation should play in developing this form of outcomes funding. Published for PIRU by Katy Pillai, Big Issue Invest & GO Lab Fellow of Practice
A Critical Reflection on Social Impact Bonds – Looking at the hype surrounding Social Impact Bonds and exploring whether they are the future of impact investing or have significant challenges to overcome. By Michael Roy, Neil McHugh and Stephen Sinclair, Stanford Social Innovation Review
We should ask three big questions about SIBs– Evaluation should test key SIB promises to government; greater collaboration, prevention and innovation, argue Clare Fitzgerald and Eleanor Carter from Government Outcomes Lab, published on Policy and Innovation Unit
Making profit from rough sleepers: the perils of social investment – John Picton argues that Social Impact Bonds raise money to help good causes, but their link to specific targets can fuel uncharitable behaviour, The Guardian
£80 million Life Chances Fund– Announcement of SIB projects that will receive support – The Life Chances Fund seeks to tackle entrenched social issues across society. Round Two of funding has just been announced and you can find out who has been awarded funding. You can also read the official government statement here.
Matt Hancock speaking on Civil Society in the 21st Century – Setting out the Civil Society Strategy, Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said he would be providing greater investment for Social Impact Bonds as well as introducing a new era of public sector grants – Grants 2.0. Read the full speech on the Government website.
Japan highlights innovative Asia Pacific mode for Social Impact Bonds – SIBs are emerging as a way to reconfigure relationships between state and civil society in ways that their Western inventors may not have anticipated but may wish to replicate – Chih Hoong Sin and Ichiro Tsukamoto, published by Policy and Innovation Research Unit.