INDIGO Peer Learning Group
The International Network for Data on Impact and Government Outcomes (INDIGO) peer learning group is about building shared culture and standards around data in social outcome-based projects. The group meets quarterly and is a forum for civic tech enthusiasts, policy-makers and other actors in cross-sector partnerships for social outcomes to work together towards better data for better social outcomes. The sessions are run by Mara Airoldi, GO Lab Academic Director, Juliana Outes Velarde, GO Lab Senior Data Steward and Srinithya Nagarajan, GO Lab Policy Engagement and Communications Associate. Read more about the INDIGO initiative here.
Interested? To join the mailing list and register to our quarterly online meetings, please email indigo@bsg.ox.ac.uk.
Aims of our group
- Helping policy makers to describe their data needs and ambitions around outcome-based projects.
- Sharing data about social outcome-based contracts, grants, and other cross-sector partnerships around the world.
- Encouraging the formation of a community around the use of data for social outcomes.
- Discussing the availability of data and the harmonisation of data standards for the sector.
Past quarterly online meetings
In this session, we used the Life Chances Fund projects' data as a starting point for a conversation on how to use performance measures to improve public services. Together with a group of practitioners working with performance data, we discussed the uses of performance data and how different audiences interpret these data. We also heard from an academic about behavioral public performance and explored the biases in people's perception and use of data, and lessons for practitioners and policymakers.
Listen to the audio recording of the session.
Join us for a discussion on the importance of defining the target population for projects in Latin America. This event will bring together academics and practitioners to share examples of how to define target populations in this region, as well as the importance of data availability in this process.
This session is organised by our partners at the Insper Metricis (Brazil). Here is the link to the registration form.
Listen to the audio recording of the session.
In this session, we explored how data sharing can help the development of an outcomes ecosystem, using the case of the Imagine SIB, the first social impact bond in South Africa where the totality of outcomes funding comes from government.
Listen to the audio recording of the session.
We explored data sharing practices and agreements in outcomes-based contracts. Together with a group of practitioners managing outcomes contracts, we discussed which terms of the contracts the community was willing to openly and which terms should be kept in confidence. You can watch the recording of the event here.
Listen to the audio recording of the session.
This was our second session with a focus on Latin American outcomes-based projects. We deep dived into the experience of an education outcomes-based contract in Brazil and explored the factors behind success and failure of these projects. A group of practitioners discussed what data is useful to have on projects that did not launch. Although some initiatives in the region emerged but did not become a reality, valuable lessons can be learnt to better understand the challenges of the region.
This session was organised by our partners at INSPER Metricis (Brazil).
This session had a focus on Latin American outcomes-based projects. We explored what other type of outcomes-based projects exist, apart from impact bonds, and how they work to achieve positive social outcomes. A group of practitioners presented their projects and told us about their experiences in the field.
The discussion was structured in two parts. First, we asked practitioners to describe their projects and explain how the outcomes focus works in their particular cases. After that, considering the possibility of having a more comprehensive dataset, we discussed what are the key variables and data points that we would need to collect on outcomes-based projects.
Listen to the audio recording of the session.
Our seventh INDIGO quarterly online meeting took place on Thursday 03 March.
For this INDIGO peer learning session, we discussed the use of technology for social outcomes measurement. We hosted two practitioners who were implementing or running pilot projects that use technology to monitor and measure outcomes achievements. The guiding questions for the first part of the session were: What are the specific technologies that could be useful for this type of project? How difficult it is to implement the use of these tools? What are the benefits for the project and what are the risks and disadvantages?
We spared some time, as usual, to share our quarterly INDIGO updates and extended an invitation to join our Hack and Learn event.
Listen to the audio recording of the session.
Our sixth INDIGO quarterly online meeting took place on Thursday 11 November.
In this session, we presented our Technical and Learning Report from this summer's Hack and Learn and heard initial findings from guest speakers Silvana Fumega and Nicolás Grossman from the Global Data Barometer on their work on data availability across the world.
The guiding questions for this part of the session were: What different types of data are available around the world? How much data can we access in low and middle-income countries? And what about capacity to analyse and use that data for evidence-based decision making? If you are interested in their approach to these questions, you can read about their methodology here.
Listen to the audio recording of the session.
Our fifth INDIGO quarterly online meeting took place on Thursday 29 July at 3pm BST.
In this session, our INDIGO team and academic partners presented the new Impact Bonds Insights report, INDIGO's new network animation and our upcoming Hack and Learn event. The session then focussed on data needs in smaller organisations, such as charities, foundations or voluntary organisations.
To join the mailing list and register to our quarterly online meetings, please email indigo@bsg.ox.ac.uk.
Listen to the audio recording of the session.
Our fourth INDIGO quarterly online meeting took place on Thursday 22 April, 2021.
In this session, our INDIGO team and academic partners presented the new Technical and Learning report, co-produced as part of our Hack and Learn event. With our partners, we collated the lessons learnt from the sessions to make sense of and use data on organisations, outcomes, public procurement, and social investment in impact bonds and other types of cross sector partnerships. The session therefore also served to conclude our Hack and Learn event. The session therefore also served to provide the latest updates and plans for our Impact Bond Dataset.
Listen to the audio recording of the session.
Our third INDIGO quarterly online meeting took place on Thursday 21st of January, 2021 at 15:00 (London).
This session included:
- Impact Bond Dataset V2 – feedback on improvements and how to update your projects, organisation, and outcome (payment) fund data.
- Learning around data on financial and technical assistance provided by a social investor, Big Issue Invest (BII).
- Plans for a Hack-and-Learn in February-March 2021.
- And more!
To join the mailing list and register to our quarterly online meetings, please email indigo@bsg.ox.ac.uk.
Listen to the audio recording of the session.
Our second INDIGO quarterly online meeting took place on Thursday 24th of September, 2020 at 14:00 (London).
- We discussed Coder and Policy-maker Reflections from the INDIGO Hack-and-Learn 2020. (The INDIGO Hack-and-Learn 2020 was part of the GO Lab Social Outcomes Conference 2020 which took place on 1 - 4, September 2020.)
Our first INDIGO quarterly online meeting took place on Thursday 25th of June, 2020 at 15:00 (London). We discussed INDIGO Aspirations and What Success Looks Like.
- Facilitator: Eleanor Carter (University of Oxford).
- Discussants included: Chloe Tye (Big Issue Invest), Claudia Coppenolle (Imp+Act Alliance), Cori Zarek (Georgetown University), Oscar Hernández (Open Contracting Partnership), Inga Afanasieva (World Bank) and Ruben Koekoek (Social Finance NL).
- See our draft theory of change (logic model) and draft use cases here for discussion and improvement in this peer learning session.
- Watch the full video of our meeting below.
Listen to the audio recording of the session.