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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.

Impact Wayfinder [Prototype]

Are you thinking of running an impact evaluation for your project? Check out our new Impact Wayfinder! We'll help you find the right evaluation for you according to the focus of your organisation and the scale of your project.

Mission-led Growth Dashboard

This innovative dashboard benchmarks performance data for each council in England with its Nearest Neighbour, the median of all local authorities in England and the average of the selected authority’s ten Nearest Neighbours.

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.

Home Knowledge bank Resource library

Resource library

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Reset

Government publication | 15 Dec 2020

Green Paper: Transforming public procurement

The proposals in this Green Paper are intended to shape the future of public procurement in this country for many years to come. The government’s goal is to speed up and simplify our procurement processes, place value for money at their heart, and unleas

Organisation: HM Government

Resource | 4 Dec 2020

INDIGO template

The International Network for Data on Impact and Government Outcomes (INDIGO) is an emerging data collaborative aiming at better data for better social outcomes. Data analysts, researchers or stakeholders can use this spreadsheet to share data.

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

Evaluation Report | 1 Dec 2020

Kirklees Integrated Support Service and Better Outcomes Partnership: The first report from a longitudinal evaluation of a Life Chances Fund impact bond

Read the Government Outcomes Lab's interim report on the Kirklees Integrated Support Service Social Impact Bond, which outlines four hypothesised features of social impact bonds that are expected to improve service delivery.

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

Resource | 24 Nov 2020

Government Outcomes Lab response to British Standards Institution BS 8950 - Social value

Read Government Outcomes Lab's response to the British Standards Institution's initiative to codify social value.

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

Want to know more about the state of play of impact bonds? Explore our global interactive map to find out data on impact bonds in their various stages of development and policy areas.

Discover our dataset on impact bonds around the world

Explore

Resource | 23 Nov 2020

INDIGO Data Dictionary 2020

This is the the 2020 Data Dictionary for our INDIGO Impact Bond Dataset. It contains all the variables and data definitions that you need to fully understand these data.

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

Evaluation Report | 12 Oct 2020

Maternal Health Care Quality and Outcomes Under the Utkrisht Impact Bond: Midline Findings and Insights

This midline report on quality and health outcomes from the Utkrisht Development Impact Bond (DIB) includes a series of standalone chapters to enable readers to choose the specific aspect of the DIB to learn about.

Organisation: Mathematica

Report | 1 Oct 2020

Selvitykset Ja Raportit

Evaluation Report | 1 Oct 2020

On TRACC- Social impact investment and recidivism: A field experiment with high-risk parolees

Organisation: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics & Research

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

Evaluation Report | 1 Oct 2020

Newpin Final Evaluation Report

This is the final evaluation report of the Newpin SBB

Organisation: Urbis

Report | 30 Sep 2020

Do the benefits outweigh the costs of impact bonds?

Organisation: Brookings Institution

Resource | 23 Sep 2020

Do impact bonds affect the ecosystem of social services delivery and financing?

This brief examines the evidence for how impact bonds affect the larger ecosystem of social service delivery and financing.

Organisation: Brookings Institution

Report | 16 Sep 2020

Are impact bonds delivering outcomes and paying out returns?

Organisation: Brookings Institution

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

Report | 9 Sep 2020

Are impact bonds reaching the intended populations?

This brief highlights the beneficiary voice and considers some of the challenges and strategies to ensure that interventions reach those most in need of impact bond services.

Organisation: Brookings Institution

Report | 2 Sep 2020

What is the size and scope of the impact bonds market?

Organisation: Brookings Institution

Policy brief | 10 Aug 2020

How can the government ensure the effectiveness of the Kickstart scheme? Learning from evidence

In this policy memo, we provide 7 recommendations which show how the £2 billion Kickstart scheme for young people can be implemented in a way that will enhance effective local partnerships, substantial private sector involvement and targeting of support.

Organisation: Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab)

Evaluation Report | 1 May 2020

Silver Chain: Evaluation of the Silver Chain Community Palliative Care Service Western Sydney – Social Impact Investment

This report is the first evaluation of the Community Palliative Care Service developed in partnership with Silver Chain Group, Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD), NSW Health (Ministry of Health), and the NSW Office of Social Impact Investment.

Organisation: Paxon Group

Explore our in-depth collection of case studies on impact bonds and other outcomes-based approaches around the world.

Case studies

Explore

Evaluation Report | 7 Apr 2020

In depth review - 'Be the change' Social Impact Bond

Evaluation Report | 1 Apr 2020

Evaluation of the Resilient Families Service - Final Report (April 2020)

This is the final evaluation of the Resilient Families Service

Organisation: ARTD Consultants

Resource | 12 Feb 2020

Evaluation of the Life Chances Fund Interim report

ICF were commissioned in July 2017 by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to undertake an independent programme-level evaluation of the Life Chances Fund (LCF).

Organisation: ICF Consulting

Evaluation Report | 1 Feb 2020

Individual Placement Support: A Social Impact Bond Model

Organisation: The Behavioural Insights Team

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