Rethinking refugee integration using outcome-based commissioning

The newly announced Refugee Outcomes Transition Fund (RTOF) offers a new funding mechanism for those working to help resettle and integrate refugees. 

This event, hosted by ACH (recently awarded the prestigious Queens Award for Enterprise), explored how Outcome Based Commissioning can be used to provide a holistic, person-centric approach to refugee integration.

Chaired by ACH’s Chief Executive Officer, Fuad Mahamed, we heard from the perspective of funders, practitioners, researchers, and individuals with lived experience. Thank you to our brilliant panel - Peter Barnet & Navjot Johal Coventry City Council, Tanyah Hameed Government Outcomes Lab, Steve Marsland Bridges Outcomes Partnerships & Charlie Fraser The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network. 

Key Outcomes

Benefits to the wider community

With more investors, councils, providers, and government departments moving towards an outcome-based system, it is likely there will be an increase in resettled refugees who can fulfil an independent life and gain employment in the UK. This should reduce the cost spent on benefits; benefiting the wider community and economy whilst changing attitudes towards newly arrived communities.

Making change happen

Using social impact bonds (SIBs) and outcome-based funding for refugee resettlement could make a huge difference in securing better outcomes for refugees who are resettling in the UK. It has the potential to give many more displaced people a chance to rebuild their lives, by creating a funding system that focuses on changing lives not just creating outputs.

Changing perceptions

If the RTOF pilots prove successful, as we believe they will, this could positively influence the UK government to increase their resettlement program in the knowledge that resettled refugees can represent a great benefit to societies, not a burden.

Further questions

How do we make sure lived experience is at the heart of outcome-based funding to shape the service to be more effective and equitable? Who gets to decide the outcomes and their appropriateness? How do we ensure that quick and easy routes, that do not benefit the client, are not being taken to reach outcomes? What exactly will be the role of social investors and how will the risks be shared?

Looking forward

If outcomes-based commissioning is going to be meaningful, organisations delivering services need to be connected with those coordinating outcome-based funding. ACH is keen to play a leading role in making that connection and therefore, will be looking to create more opportunities like this event.

ACH, CEO, Fuad Mahamed expressed - 

“I have always advocated on increased investment on refugee integration services. I am delighted the UK government is proposing this new funding model focused on supporting asylum route refugees and targeting high asylum dispersal areas. We are keen to work with partners to make this new endeavour a success for all.”

Continue the conversation

Thank you again to the panel and, everyone who attended for their fascinating insights. Read more in our key outcomes document below.

Continue the conversation and contact us at info@ach.org.uk