With the SCALE+ methodology, investing in collaboration means promoting a mindset shift, expanding perspectives and harnessing dynamic intelligence. Transforming systems requires strong, connected and trusting relationships, as systems are fueled by social capital. Robust relationships lead to collective actions capable of generating system-wide change and impacts. For real transformation, a project should consider investing its resources and technical assistance at an entry point where social capital exists or is growing.
Promote a mindset shift
All systems, including social systems, ecological systems, market systems, organizations and even family structures, function as a web of mutual relationships. Therefore, transforming systems requires more than a set of unilateral actions — even with unlimited financial resources.
SCALE+ encourages project leaders to reimagine the pathway to success by shifting from focusing on a single part of the system to looking at the whole system. By applying a systems lens, project leaders can increase cross-sector stakeholder participation in project decisions and support collective action, which can lead to systemwide transformation.
Expand perspectives
Instead of managing a project with several predetermined stakeholders in a given sector, SCALE+ puts in place internal and external management structures to engage with hundreds of stakeholders, assists them in identifying common purposes, and facilitates new and increased collaboration. This creates an enabling environment for the project to address challenges and extend the reach of project resources and technical assistance.
Harness dynamic intelligence
SCALE+ generates dynamic intelligence by facilitating cross-sector dialogue among government representatives, civil society leaders and other systems actors about priorities, system needs, and common goals. Involving all stakeholders in decision-making increases their support of, commitment to and trust in the project, and decisions made through collective thinking lead directly to greater participation in collaborative actions and, subsequently, more relevant and lasting change.
