DIBs bring together private investors, non-profit and private sector service delivery organizations, governments and donors to deliver results that society values. They provide upfront funding for development programs by private investors, who are remunerated by donors or host-country governments—and earn a return—if evidence shows that programs achieve pre-agreed outcomes. If interventions fail, investors lose some or all of their investment. The DIB Working Group explored the challenges and benefits of this new funding model for development and contexts in which it could be applied, including six case studies outlined in the group’s final report. The report includes technical considerations for implementing DIBs, and recommendations for how all actors involved can help to develop DIB pilots and the emergence of a market for this kind of approach.
The Center for Global Development, in partnership with the London-based organization Social Finance, formed a working group to explore a new development financing mechanism, Development Impact Bonds (DIBs). DIBs are an iteration of Social Impact Bonds, first launched in the UK as a way to shift incentives and accountability to results, transfer performance risk to the private sector, and increase efficiency in program implementation. Public sector entities, including the governments of developing countries and donors engaged in those countries, face many of the same problems that the SIB model was responding to in developed countries, and the DIB Working Group convened to explore how this model could address these problems and improve development outcomes.
Highlights
- The report of the DIB Working Group sets out proposals for Development Impact Bonds, and the Working Group’s conclusions on how this approach could improve the quality and efficiency of public services in developing countries.
- New York Launch Event
- Report Summary with recommendations
- A two-page briefing note (PDF),
In Spanish.
In French.
Co-Chairs
Owen Barder, Center for Global Development
Toby Eccles, Social Finance
Elizabeth Littlefield, Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Members
Bob Annibale, Citigroup
Vineet Bewtra, Omidyar Network
Nancy Birdsall, Center for Global Development
Chris Egerton Warburton, Lion’s Head Global Partners
Rebecca Endean, UK Ministry of Justice
Stefan Isaksson, Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Kippy Joseph, Rockefeller Foundation
Dan Kress, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Susan McAdams, World Bank
Steve Pierce, USAID
Oliver Sabot, Kepler/Slingshot
Sonal Shah, Board Member Social Finance US/Independent
Smita Singh, Independent
Rachel Turner, UK Department for International Development
Peter Wheeler, Board Member Social Finance UK/Independent
Resources
- DIB Presentation for OECD netFWD
- DIB Presentation for RBF Interagency Working Group
- FAQs
- DIB Working Group Meeting 1 Presentation
- DIB Working Group Meeting 2 Presentation
Media Mentions
- Philanthrocapitalism blog: An Impact Revolution in Aid
- New York Times article: An Investment Strategy in the Human Interest