Social Impact Bonds: The Role of Evaluation

This chapter focuses on the central role of evaluation in assessing the achievement of outcomes and the challenges. It reviews the nature and structure of a Social Impact Bonds (SIBs). SIBs are very new and in many respects experimental and are likely to remain in that category for some time yet. The public good here equates to an increase in better focused, better managed and more effective human services programs. Barclay and Symons have identified two elements of assessment that need to be undertaken in order for a SIB to be successfully evaluated. The search for interventions suited to the SIB approach raises significant issues for the wider practice of evaluation. As Azemati et al. comment for many social problems, we lack proven, scalable solutions. There may be increased opportunities for focused and rigorous evaluations which are necessary precursors to the negotiation of future SIBs