Keynote by Dr Eleanor Carter at Impact Talk 2024: A call for a results revolution
On 9 September 2024, Dr Eleanor Carter, Academic Co-Director of the Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab) at the University of Oxford, delivered a keynote address at Impact Talk 2024 in Rotterdam. Hosted by Social Finance NL, the event brought together leaders in social finance to explore the future of results-based financing in the Netherlands, following on from the Social Outcomes Conference (SOC24) in Oxford.
On 9 September 2024, Dr Eleanor Carter, Academic Co-Director of the Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab) at the University of Oxford, delivered a keynote address at Impact Talk 2024 in Rotterdam. Hosted by Social Finance NL, the event brought together leaders in social finance to explore the future of results-based financing in the Netherlands, following on from the Social Outcomes Conference (SOC24) in Oxford.
Dr Carter highlighted the evolving role of social impact bonds (SIBs) and outcome-based contracts in tackling complex societal challenges. Advocating for a shift towards more adaptive and collaborative approaches, she highlighted the success of initiatives like the Kirklees Better Outcomes Partnership (KBOP) in the UK, which demonstrated significant impacts when prioritising flexible, people-centred solutions over rigid contracting.
Reflecting on her research, Dr Carter acknowledged that she initially viewed SIBs as a technical fix for government contracting. However, she has come to see them as a relational tool, fostering partnerships that prioritise individuals’ well-being and empowerment. She illustrated this point with the moving story of Michael, a KBOP participant whose life was transformed by support from a worker with lived experience.
Echoing Dr. Carter’s message, Dutch panellists, including Pieter Duisenberg (President, Algemene Rekenkamer), Sandra Ballij (CEO, Ctalents), and Maurice Fransen (Partner, Deloitte) called for a broader adoption of results-based financing in the Netherlands, highlighting its potential to redefine social impact.
In closing, Dr Carter left the audience with a powerful call to action:
“The promise of social outcome partnerships is great. It’s time to be adaptive, accountable, and person-centred in our approach to tackling societal challenges. Let’s support one another to make the results revolution happen.”
For more insights, read our latest report The Evolution of Social Outcomes Partnerships in the UK: Distilling fifteen years of experience from Peterborough to Kirklees. To learn more about Social Finance NL and their work, visit their website.