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

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 Canada’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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