UBS Optimus Foundation: from Giving to Investing

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UBS Optimus Foundation: from Giving to Investing UBS Optimus Foundation: From Giving to Investing Prepared by pfc Social Impact Advisors November 2018 Acknowledgements pfc Social Impact Advisors thanks UBS and the UBS Optimus Foundation (UBSOF, Optimus, or the Foundation) for the support of this program of study. We also thank UBS CEO Sergio P. Ermotti, and UBSOF CEO Phyllis Costanza for their commitment to sharing the story of UBSOF. pfc also extends a sincere appreciation to the UBSOF Social Finance team of Maya Ziswiler and Sietse Wouters and their Foundation peers and partners who participated in the interviews and shared research (see Appendix A). Their honesty and candor represented in this case analysis exemplify a learning organization and Deliberate Leadership. Their real voices and stories of innovation, challenge, and change are what make this an exceptional global learning tool. Finally, a special thanks to the pfc staff and consultants who contributed their research, writing, editing, and design skills—D. Clancy, Meredith Rutland Bauer, Suzanne Lamoreaux, Jay Walljasper, Ali Webb, and Robert Yawson. Photo images courtesy of Mark Tuschman and UBS Optimus Foundation’s Communications. Gayle Peterson Senior Managing Director, pfc social impact advisors Associate Fellow, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford Director, Oxford Impact Investing and Social Finance Programmes Table of Contents Preface: Accepting the Challenge to Solve Humanity’s Toughest Problems ................................................ 1 Social Finance Primer ............................................................................................................................... 3 Just What Is Social Finance, and Why Does It Matter? ........................................................................ 3 Who Are the Players in Social Finance? ............................................................................................... 5 Social Finance Movement .................................................................................................................... 6 Measuring Impact Versus Activity ........................................................................................................ 6 Making Money Matter ......................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction: Capital With a Cause .............................................................................................................. 7 Sustainable Development Goals .............................................................................................................. 8 Setting the Context: How UBS and UBSOF Meet Client Needs .................................................................... 9 Social Finance in Action .............................................................................................................................. 15 Phase 1 ................................................................................................................................................... 16 Phase 2 ................................................................................................................................................... 19 Phase 3 ................................................................................................................................................... 20 UBSOF’s Social Finance Instruments in Action ....................................................................................... 20 Does Pay for Success Work? Educate Girls DIB Offers Proof of Concept ................................................... 21 The Wicked Problem .............................................................................................................................. 22 From Idea to Pilot ................................................................................................................................... 22 The DIB: Partners, Committed Financing, and Measurable Results ....................................................... 23 The Partners ....................................................................................................................................... 24 The Financing ..................................................................................................................................... 25 Operationalizing the DIB: Goals and Process for Achieving Results ................................................... 27 Bringing It Together ................................................................................................................................ 28 Results, Outcomes, Success ................................................................................................................... 29 Year One: Getting Underway ............................................................................................................. 30 Year Two: Progress and Course Correcting ........................................................................................ 31 Year Three: Focus on Underperformance .......................................................................................... 31 Complicated and Time-consuming…But Useful ................................................................................. 32 Lessons Learned in Rajasthan’s Schools ................................................................................................. 32 Lesson 1: Listen to Community .......................................................................................................... 32 Lesson 2: Build Early Alliances with Government .............................................................................. 33 Lesson 3: Reach Out Early to Service Providers ................................................................................. 34 Lesson 4: Communicate Candidly with Donors .................................................................................. 34 Lesson 5: Build in a Long Lead Time ................................................................................................... 35 Lesson 6: Adapt to Cultural Conditions .............................................................................................. 36 Lesson 7: Incorporate Evaluation and Learning from Start to Finish ................................................. 37 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................. 38 Three Social Finance Projects: Development Impact Bonds and a Social Success Note ............................ 39 Utkrisht Maternal and Newborn Health DIB .......................................................................................... 40 The Wicked Problem .......................................................................................................................... 40 Partners and Participants ................................................................................................................... 40 Program Structure and Strategy ......................................................................................................... 42 Goals and Process for Achieving Results ............................................................................................ 43 Lessons Learned from Early Days of Utkrisht Maternal and Newborn Health DIB ............................ 44 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................... 45 Impact Loan (Social Success Note) to Impact Water .............................................................................. 45 Wicked Problem ................................................................................................................................. 45 Partners and Participants ................................................................................................................... 45 Goals and Process for Achieving Results ............................................................................................ 47 Results, Outcomes, Success ............................................................................................................... 47 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................... 48 The Quality Education India DIB ............................................................................................................. 48 Wicked Problem ................................................................................................................................. 48 Partners and Participants ................................................................................................................... 49 Program Structure and Strategy ......................................................................................................... 50 Goals and Process for Achieving Results ............................................................................................ 51 Early Lesson Learned: Open Communications are Essential .............................................................. 52 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................... 53 Deliberate Leadership in Action ................................................................................................................
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