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About GO Lab

The basics

New to outcomes-based contracting? Here are some jargon-free introductions to the various types of approaches

Outcomes-based contracting

This guide offers an introduction to outcomes-based contracting, including its place among other methods of contracting out public services, the theoretical pros and cons, and the evidence to date.

New to impact bonds? This user-friendly guide will explore what impact bonds are, the evidence to date and how they work in practice in different countries around the world.

Relational contracting

This guide provides an introduction to relational contracting in the public sector, explaining what it is, the potential benefits and challenges, and how to adopt a relational approach.

This guide introduces outcomes funds. It aims to document and describe outcomes funds around the world and identify lessons for future fund design.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Knowledge bank

Explore our datasets, case studies and publications to learn more about the latest research on outcomes-based contracting

We are the International Network for Data on Impact and Government Outcomes (INDIGO). Here you can explore our datasets, read our latest news, join our events and find out more about data sharing in the field of social outcomes.

A collection of in-depth case studies of impact bonds around the world

Resource library

View the latest reports, evaluations and more on outcomes-based contracting

A glossary of key terms and working definitions around impact bonds and outcomes-based contracting

Toolkit

Interested in designing and managing outcomes-based projects? We have prepared some tools and guidance to help

Impact bond lifecycle

Developed in consultation with a wide range of practitioners to support projects being established under the UK Government’s Life Chances Fund.

Technical guidance

We have a range of guidance to support you develop impact bonds, from setting and measuring outcomes, to awarding the contract and pricing outcomes.

GO Lab-CIPFA Value for Money (VfM) Toolkit

We've partnered with Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy(CIPFA) to develop a toolkit for public managers planning to assess VfM of outcomes-based contracting programmes, or any public programme with an outcome-focus.

Community

Connect with others through our global directory, read the latest blogs, join our events and more.

Oxford Government Outcomes Blog

Read the latest opinion and insights from the GO Lab network

Find out the latest news from the GO Lab and across the sector

Join our events, from webinars, regional events to international conferences

Peer Learning Groups

At the GO Lab, we host a selection of peer learning groups that aim to support learning and knowledge on outcome-based approaches. Read more on our different groups and upcoming sessions here.

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Resource library

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Featured publication

Resource | 1 Sep 2021

Government Outcomes Lab: The first five years

To celebrate the Government Outcomes Lab 5th anniversary, we published this report, which summarises our journey, challenges and triumphs, and looks at our work to help foster effective cross-sector partnerships with government.

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

Policy brief | 5 Dec 2022

Tackling Spatial Inequalities Roundtable Communiqué

This communiqué summarises the conversation that took place at the University of Oxford’s Tackling Spatial Inequalities Roundtable featuring senior cross-sector representatives to reinvigorate the agenda to level up the social outcomes across the UK.

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

Video | 2 Nov 2022

West London Zone and Positive Families Partnership - Commissioning Better Outcomes Fund

This event brought together stakeholders from the Commissioning Better Outcomes (CBO) Fund Programmes to mark the end of the programme and share the learnings and experiences from the implementation of CBO-supported projects

Organisation: Ecorys

Webinar | 19 Oct 2022

| Engaging with Evidence | Insights from the UK's Commissioning Better Outcomes Evaluation

For this engaging with evidence webinar session, we explored the latest findings from the evaluation of the UK's Commissioning Better Outcomes (CBO) Fund.

Organisation: The Government Outcomes Lab

Practical guide | 6 Oct 2022

Social Outcomes Contracting in Europe: A Procurement Guide

This report focuses on practical issues related to the interplay of public contracting rules and social outcomes contracts in Europe

Organisations: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab), European Investment Bank

Discover the International Network for Data on Impact and Government Outcomes (INDIGO). Here you can explore our datasets, join our events and find out more about data sharing in the field of social outcomes.

Better data for better social outcomes

Explore

Video | 9 Sep 2022

How to get the most of the Impact Bond Dataset

Curious to know more about our Impact Bond Dataset? Here's a video explainer

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

Conference Session | 9 Sep 2022

| SOC22 | Academic Symposium: Governance & institutional logics in outcomes-focused partnerships

On the second day of the Social Outcomes Conference 2022, we held an academic symposium on governance & institutional logics in outcomes-focused partnerships.

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

Conference Session | 9 Sep 2022

| SOC22 | Roundtable: Evidence & practical insights from the UK's Life Chances Fund projects

On the second day of the Social Outcomes Conference 2022, we held a rountable that looked at the progress of the projects commissioned under the UK's Life Chances Fund.

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

Conference Session | 9 Sep 2022

| SOC22 | Roundtable: Measuring what matters in outcomes-based partnerships

On the second day of the Social Outcomes Conference 2022, we held a rountable that looked at measuring what matters in outcomes-based partnerships

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

New to outcomes-based contracting and social impact bonds? Discover the basics about these innovative approaches to the provision of public services.

Back to basics

Read More

Conference Session | 9 Sep 2022

| SOC22 | Data with a purpose: Insights from an emerging learning collaborative for outcomes-based partnerships

On the second day of the Social Outcomes Conference 2022, the GO Lab & their partners at Warwick University launched SyROCCo, a pioneering tool to support practitioners, policymakers and researchers to find the right evidence on outcomes-based contracts.

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

Conference Session | 9 Sep 2022

| SOC22 | Deep Dive: Outcomes are knotty for public procurement

On the second day of the Social Outcomes Conference 2022, we held a session that took a deep dive on the complexities of public procurement for outcomes-based projects.

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

Conference Session | 9 Sep 2022

| SOC22 | Deep Dive: Outcomes-based contracting and environmental management

On the second day of the Social Outcomes Conference 2022, we held a session on the role of outcomes-based contracting (OBC) in promoting a ‘green agenda’.

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

Conference Session | 9 Sep 2022

| SOC22 | Deep Dive: Outcomes-based contracts & relational contracting

On the second day of the Social Outcomes Conference 2022, we held a session that explored some of the ways in which outcomes-based contracts can bring together parties from different backgrounds in a long-term partnership.

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

We have a range of guidance to support you develop impact bonds, from setting and measuring outcomes, to awarding the contract and pricing outcomes.

Technical guidance

Read more

Conference Session | 9 Sep 2022

| SOC22 | The Big Picture: How do we make social change stick? Lessons from outcomes-based partnerships and beyond

This discussion brought together a rich mix of policymaker and practitioner perspectives from around the world for an in-depth exploration of the engines of impact that can strengthen the long-term legacy of outcomes-focused partnerships.

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

Conference Session | 9 Sep 2022

| SOC22 | Public Talk: How do we make things happen on the ground?

On the second day of the Social Outcomes Conference 2022, we concluded the conference with a Public Talk delivered by Professor Stefan Dercon (Oxford) on achieving more alignment between stakeholders in the world of policy.

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

Resource | 8 Sep 2022

Partnerships with principles: Putting relationships at the heart of public contracts for better social outcomes

This guide has been developed to explain concretely what relational working between organisations is and how to do it, to support people to experiment more boldly with such approaches – and importantly, to help manage some of the risks inherent in them.

Organisation: The Government Outcomes Lab

Conference Session | 8 Sep 2022

| SOC22 | Roundtable: Conversations on measurement and public value

On the first day of the Social Outcomes Conference 2022, we held a rountable on outcomes measurement and public value

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

We coordinate a range of geographical and thematically focused peer learning groups which enable people to learn from each other.

Peer learning groups

Join us

Conference Session | 8 Sep 2022

| SOC22 | Roundtable: Fit for Purpose? Outcomes-based contracting around the world

On the first day of the Social Outcomes Conference 2022, we held a round table on the current state of outcomes-based contracting around the world.

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

Conference Session | 8 Sep 2022

| SOC22 | Keynote Presentation: Harnessing Power for Positive Impact

On the first day of the Social Outcomes Conference 2022, Prof. Julie Battilana (Harvard) delivered a keynote presentation on Power and Social Change.

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

Conference Session | 8 Sep 2022

| SOC22 | Deep Dive: Wider well-being through public procurement

On the first day of the Social Outcomes Conference 2022, we held a deep dive session on achieving well-being through public procurement.

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

Conference Session | 8 Sep 2022

| SOC22 | Deep Dive: Fostering Local Governance

On the first day of the Social Outcomes Conference 2022, we held a deep dive that looked at ways in which central governments can support local institutions to help (re)build local governance capacity.

Organisation: The Government Outcomes Lab

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The basics

Outcomes-based contracting
Impact bonds
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

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Case studies
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Toolkit

Impact bond lifecycle
Technical guidance
GO Lab-CIPFA Value for Money (VfM) Toolkit

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Oxford Government Outcomes Blog
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Procurement and social value
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