A think tank is calling on the government and the charity sector to launch a new body aimed at improving “the flow and use of evidence” across civil society.

According to think rank PBE the new Civil Society Evidence Organisation (CSEVO) would help charities “make smarter decisions, reduce duplication, and spread good practice”.

The new body is needed as currently charities’ “evidence base is fragmented and often inaccessible, holding back progress”, says the think tank.

It estimates it would cost £2.5m over five years to pilot the new body, with this investment shared between government and the social sector “with government using matched funding to encourage philanthropic support”.

This investment could bring wider economic benefits, through boosting productivity and improving support among charities, which would be the equivalent of a £26 return for every £1 spent.

“If CSEVO helped to boost the productivity of 100 average-sized charities – that is, less than 0.1% of the total population of charities – then wider economic benefits might amount to £12 million,” said the think tank.

The CSEVO would also operate “as a central hub” for civil society evidence gather “connecting charities, funders, policymakers, researchers, and data providers like the Charity Commission, Bank of England and Office for National Statistics”, added PBE.

Priorities of the proposed CSEVO would be to identify gaps in evidence, generating and sharing research and ensure findings “are practical and user friendly”.

Governance of the new organisation should be independent and drawn from representatives from charities, funders, researchers and evidence providers, as well as official bodies including the Charity Commission and the ONS.

PBE is urging “government and sector funders to work together to make this vision a reality, transforming the landscape for charities and the communities they serve”.

“Civil society is a national asset, but it’s held back by structural barriers,” said PBE chief executive Matt Whittaker.

“This business case sets out how a civil society evidence organisation can provide the evidence infrastructure needed to unleash more of its potential, delivering better outcomes for families and communities across the UK.”

The setting up a of centralised evidence gathering body for civil society was a recommendation of the Law Family Commission on Civil Society, a research project ran by PBE when it was called Pro Bono Economics, for three years until 2023.

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