Collaborative Learning Processes in Social Impact Bonds: A Case Study from the Netherlands

Abstract

Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) bring together organizations from various sectors, with different organizational logics. Successful cross-sector collaboration, therefore, is challenging. In this paper, the collaborative learning process between partners of the SIB The Colour Kitchen (The Netherlands) is analysed. By analysing a good practice case, this paper shows (1) how collaborative governance theory helps to understand the dynamics of an SIB partnership, (2) provides insight into theoretical and empirical favourable conditions and actions for collaboration in an SIB, and (3) illustrates the complexity of SIBs and shows why such a normative proposition is still not widely practised.