Evidence & insights from the experience with social outcomes contracts in Europe
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In this SOC22 regional spotlight session, we explored the evidence and practical insights from Europe's experience with social outcomes contracts.
The Social Outcomes Conference (SOC22) is an annual convening of the world's leading researchers, policymakers and practitioners working to improve social outcomes.
It aims to bring together the rigour of the most recent, cutting-edge academic research with an applied, real-world focus. It will be an opportunity for participants to engage in vibrant exchanges between both policymakers, practitioners and academics from around the world, each with their own experience and insights on improving social outcomes.
This year's conference is built around four key themes:
- Partnerships in place
- Outcomes-based contracting
- Procurement and social value
- Measuring outcomes and value for money
These themes are all underpinned by a single core question: How can government collaborate with the voluntary, social and private sectors to develop, manage and evaluate shared social outcomes?
This year, on the side of SOC22, we will be hosting an online special session that spotlights particular regional and academic research.
Session overview
This session will bring together leading practitioners and policymakers from across Europe, who are working on designing or implementing social outcomes contracts. It will be an opportunity for them to connect with peers from other European countries, share updates from their latest work, and exchange insights on emerging best practice. In the session we will also explore how the stakeholders in this ecosystem can best work together to learn from each other and accelerate the development of a sustainable ecosystem for outcomes-based partnerships. This will be a highly interactive session, with a focus on facilitating dialogue and knowledge exchanges between participants.
A growing number of countries, regions and municipalities in Europe are starting to explore the use of social outcomes contracts (SOCs). Also known as social impact bonds (SIBs) or impact bonds in the UK, these outcomes-focused financing mechanisms are used to address a variety of complex social challenges in society.
As of August 2022, over 60 SOCs have been launched across Europe, with projects delivered or currently under implementation in: Portugal, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Finland and Sweden. Additionally, other outcomes-focused initiatives are being explored in a number of other European countries. These projects seek to address a wide range of social challenges, including youth skills and employment, refugee integration, children’s social care, health and wellbeing. As this ecosystem for outcomes-focused partnerships grows, what are the lessons learnt so far and how can those involved in these partnerships collaborate effectively across boundaries to overcome shared challenges and make the most of existing opportunities?
This session is hosted in partnership by the Government Outcomes Lab at the University of Oxford, Maze – Impact Portugal and Social Finance Netherlands. For those attending this meeting in person at the Blavatnik School of Government in Oxford, there will be an opportunity for informal networking following the session. If you would like to attend this session in person please contact Andreea in the GO Lab team.
This session is open to all, and it will be particularly relevant to those working on outcomes-focused initiatives in Europe, who are keen to connect and exchange insights with peers from other countries in the region.
The session will precede the annual Social Outcomes Conference (8-9 September, University of Oxford). If you wish to attend the conference in person, you can book your ticket here.
About Maze - Impact Portugal
Maze are a pragmatic and hardworking group of millennials that thrive in finding the optimal ways to grow and invest in impact ventures. They are moved by a deep desire to pursue a life that is both meaningful and valuable regardless of origins, nation, age, education, gender and other fabricated divisions that tend to keep us apart.
Maze strengthen impact ventures to scale, reorient capital towards impactful outcomes and offer market intelligence to simplify the interactions between impact investors and entrepreneurs. This is impact investing, the new movement that is sweeping across the world today and that is transforming humanity as a whole.
About Social Finance Netherlands
Social Finance NL (SFNL) partners with governments, non-profits, philanthropy, impact investors, and financial institutions to create innovative financing solutions to improve social outcomes. They bring uncommon partners together around a common purpose: to measurably improve the lives of those in need.
SFNL helps governments, non-profits and investors to measure, finance and increase social impact. They focus on achieving sustainable and effective solutions for people in need. They distinguish themselves by combining their social mission with their financial expertise. They recognize the essence of the issues, work logically and methodically, and underpin everything they do with data-driven analyses.