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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.

The public talk was introduced by the GO Lab's Academic Director, Mara Airoldi. Then, Professor Stefan Dercon offered some insights on how to achieve mission alignment from senior stakeholders; and attain shared commitment to action from those involved in the implementation, as well as building in timely learning practices.

Dercon spoke candidly and practically about what was required for delivering effective policy making, centring around three main needs: 

(1.) Mission alignment

(2.) Systems to deliver

(3.) Learning and accountability.

Elaborating on the first of these points, Dercon argued that if there is mission alignment, you may not need outcomes-based contracting, but 'you do it because it helps with explicit learning culture and outcomes culture'. On the importance of context, and basing aspirations on an understanding of what's possible within the context in which you operate, Dercon proposed that "if you want to deliver anything, you'd better be realistic about the system you have".

Listen to the audio recording of the session.