A social impact bond (SIB), also known as pay-for-success financing,[1] pay-for-success bond (US),[2] social benefit bond (Australia),[3] pay-for-benefit bond (Australia),[4] social outcomes contract (UK), social impact partnership (Europe), social impact contract (Europe),[5] or simply a social bond,[6] is a type of outcomes-based contracting, whereby a contractor typically attempts to effect a policy of government but does not get paid by the government unless specified goals are achieved. [7] The term was invented by Geoff Mulgan, chief executive of the Young Foundation.[8] The first SIB was launched by UK-based Social Finance Ltd.[9] in September 2010.[10]
By July 2019, 132 SIBs had been initiated in 25 countries, and they were worth more than $420m.[11] As of May 2023[update], 23 countries use SIBs, with (as of 2022[update]) 276 projects in place and capital raised to the value of $745m.[12]