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Social Finance, the deployment of financial instruments to fund community organisations, is generating considerable interest from both the public and private sector.
But how will it work in reality?
What is the finance community’s appetite for such projects in today’s economic climate? How will backers generate a return on their investment?
And, what about the social return? – Will involving the financial markets place an added burden on charities’ ability to deliver better social outcomes?
We had the opportunity to speak with Les Hems, Director of Research for the Centre for Social Impact, who will be speaking at Informa’s Inaugural Social Finance Forum 2012 on 26 September in Sydney. Hear what he had to say.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/VWKpPV6Bp3g]
We asked:
1. Social finance is seen as an innovative way to fund community projects. Can you tell us how it works?
2. What is the importance of social finance in Australia and internationally?
3. The NSW Government has recently issued a trial of Social Benefit Bonds. What outcomes are anticipated from this?
4. To date, what has been the financial community’s appetite for social finance in Australia?
5. What legislative changes would you like State or Federal Government to introduce to fast-track social finance schemes?
Social Bond is the focus at the inaugural Social Finance Forum, jointly presented by Informa Conferences and The Centre for Social Impact at the UNSW.
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