USJF Research
Ken Ito
Ken is the Executive Director of Social Value Japan (SVJ), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting social impact evaluation and social investment in Japan. He holds a Ph.D. in Media and Governance and an MBA in International Management. He is currently a visiting professor at Doshisha University’s Graduate School of Policy and Management. Ken founded Social Value Japan in 2012 as the Japanese affiliate of Social Value International, and since then he has been involved in research and pilot projects on Pay-for-Success (PFS) and Social Impact Bonds (SIB) in Japan. Over the past 14 years, Social Value Japan has provided evaluation and research services to more than 30 clients, including major Japanese foundations and corporations. He has served in various advisory roles, including as the Head of the East Asia Region for the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) from 2011 to 2024. He has also been engaged in policy discussions and initiatives related to social impact investment in Japan.
