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Trampolene, a research and technology non-profit organization in Singapore, is launching an employment program called the "Growing Alternate Talent For Engineering Sector (GATES)" for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), specifically those with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), who may be less work-ready.

The program is funded by an innovative Outcomes-Based Contract, in which Impact Bridging Funders that provide upfront funding to Trampolene can receive Impact Repayments on their capital if Trampolene successfully achieves pre-agreed impact outcome targets. The contract is designed to encourage social service organizations like Trampolene to take new innovation risks, adopt strong impact measurement practices, and build a record of evidence-based impact. Through this Outcomes-Based Contract, Trampolene secured access to impact bridging funding to cover upfront costs, while mitigating impact risks associated with starting a new program. Additionally, Trampolene can tap into the support of private and philanthropic funders who can offer ongoing capacity-building advice based on measured progress-to-date.

 

Trampolene Program
Image courtesy of Temasek.

Project Partners

Impact Bridging Funders

  • Asia Philanthropic Ventures
  • Ishk Tolaram Foundation
  • Quantedge Foundation
  • Temasek
  • Temasek Foundation

Outcomes Grant Funders

  • The Diana Koh Foundation through The Community Foundation of Singapore
  • ECCA Family Foundation

Problem Statement

PWDs in Singapore generally face low employment rates. Most employment programs focus on lower-skilled or service jobs and provide limited support for retention, contributing to high underemployment and unemployment for higher-skilled PWDs. Without employment that makes highest and best use of their skills levels, research shows PWDs with ASD may regress, leading to higher costs for government and society down the road.

Trampolene Program
Image courtesy of Temasek.

Approach

In partnership with Trampolene, Tri-Sector Associates has designed and launched an Outcomes-Based Contract to launch GATES to help PWDs with ASD successfully attain jobs in the engineering sector.

With the support of impact bridging funds, Trampolene will track and report on a quarterly basis on the number of successful employment placements with three-month retentions and nine-month retentions. At the end of the two-year program, a separate tranche of outcomes grant funding can be unlocked based on Trampolene’s success in meeting pre-agreed outcome targets. Through this funding structure, Trampolene will be supported in adopting data-driven evaluation to articulate the program’s impact and benefit from capacity building support by private sector funders.

After completing a feasibility study, Tri-Sector Associates supported Trampolene through the following activities: engaging potential Impact Bridging and Outcomes Grant Funders, establishing outcome metrics, projecting cash flow and potential social return, designing the evaluation framework, negotiating contracts with stakeholders, capacity-building, and designing an ongoing governance structure during the program’s duration to enable funder support.

Impact

The program was formally launched in May 2022. For more information, please refer to the project fact sheet below.
GATES Program Fact Sheet

 

 

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