Canada's first health social impact bond was a risk - did it pay off?

Author Jack Graham

Why It Matters

Social impact bonds are a hot new tool in social finance. We spoke to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, which created Canadaโ€™s first health impact bond to reduce hypertension. The program has shown impressive results so far, but what lessons does it hold?

var TRINITY_TTS_WP_CONFIG = {"cleanText":"Canada\u2019s first health social impact bond was a risk \u2013 did it pay off?. Since first launching in the United Kingdom 10 years ago, social impact bonds have piqued curiosity and debate around the world. Championed by high-profile advocates and denounced by impassioned critics, the conversation has often been wrapped in hype and misinformation from both sides. Often called a \u201cpay for success\u201d model, social impact bonds usually involve a partnership between a government and private investors. The latter will fund a social program, and the government will then pay them back according to its outcomes. If successful, the investors\u2019 risk is rewarded with returns. In 2016, Heart & Stroke launched Canada\u2019s first health social impact bo

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