By: Systems Change Learning Team
In the journey of transformation within ever-shifting global landscapes, uncovering the root causes is the heartbeat of change. Embarking on a catalytic path, a captivating five-part learning series was orchestrated into the depths of Systems Change. Throughout five sessions, a diverse cohort of 365 participants engaged in dialogues with 12 thought leaders, delved deep into the Six Conditions of Systems Change, explored the nuances of Inner Work, and honed their skills in Operating with Ecosystemic Awareness. In addition, two sessions tailored for visionary changemakers in Africa and Asia Pacific (APAC) were curated to address and tackle the regions’ unique contexts.
Six Conditions for Systems Change
The Six Conditions for Systems Change have gained broad adoption among social innovators, donors, academics, and practitioners. This framework serves as a valuable guide for driving change across different sectors and disciplines. Figure 1 indicates these six conditions, highlighting their significant roles in perpetuating social or environmental challenges. Being categorised into three levels based on their visibility and ability to catalyse system-wide transformation, while each condition can be assessed independently, they are interconnected and exert mutual influence on one another, illustrating the complexity of systemic change.
Source: The Waters of Systems Change, Kania et al. (Reimagining Social Change), 2018, p.4
To bring home the mentioned concept, John Kania and Juanita Zerda from the Collective Change Lab introduced the metaphor of a birdcage at the outset of the first session to indicate systemic oppression and the necessity of grasping interrelated obstacles. In building community trust, compiling localised tools, embracing cultural awareness, and transforming power dynamics, the necessity of collective effort, personal growth, and inner work for individuals and organisations involved was obvious. Two speakers encouraged learning from qualitative experiences and changing mental models for fostering impactful change.
Andrea Escobar Soyos from SoyDoy Foundation and Odunayo Aliu from Bramble Network emphasised the pivotal role of education and youth involvement in project development, alongside fostering vibrant collective engagement. Mentorships, skill training, and technology access are all essential initiatives in rural areas that foster empowerment and socio-economic innovation. While Andrea explored cultivating trust through dynamic partnerships with both the private sector and local governmental bodies, Odunayo advocated for adjusting education methods, particularly conventional teaching, by incorporating community inputs into the curriculum. This approach aims to foster a profound sense of ownership and responsibility among learners.
Whereas the first session covered the Six Conditions For Systems Change, the subsequent event explored Inner Work, the intentional process of transforming yourself by becoming aware of your internal experiences and understanding how they influence your actions in the world. Distinguished speakers gathered to explore the profound significance of self-awareness and the integration of indigenous wisdom with modern practices. The panel included Konkankoh Joshua from Indigenous and Modern, Naida Culshaw from Business Sense Training, Gabriela Arenas from TAAP Foundation, Sachin Malhan from Agami, and Zineb Mouhyi from YouthXYouth. Their discussion underscored the critical need for a deep sense of self and emphasised the reconnection with nature to align human activities with natural systems.
Central to their dialogue was the examination of the disconnection between personal transformation and societal change. The speakers illuminated the intricate bond between inner and outer systems, advocating for the necessity of bridging these realms to cultivate a sense of purpose. The prevailing societal mindset, characterised by a ‘single-track minded’ mentality, often isolates individuals from the ecosystems they inhabit. This disconnection manifests in a widespread lack of understanding of one’s origins and spiritual connections.
Konkankoh Joshua particularly highlighted the importance of reconnecting with elders to gain wisdom and embracing Indigenous practices to harmonise with nature. He emphasised the need to decolonize minds and amplify marginalised voices, suggesting that such efforts are crucial in identifying and addressing the root causes that impede progress. This call to action invites a holistic approach, integrating diverse perspectives and ancient wisdom to foster a more interconnected and sustainable future.
Operating with Ecosystemic Awareness
Ecosystemic awareness is an ongoing process that involves enhancing the quality and awareness of integrated thinking, improving the quality and awareness of relationships, and elevating the quality and awareness of collective actions. In an insightful session, Otto Scharmer from the Presencing Institute at MIT, Karima Kadaoui from the Tamkeen Community Foundation, and Arhan Bezbora from Co.LabX gathered to explore the multifaceted aspects of ecosystem awareness.
Otto Scharmer’s discussion investigated the evolution of finance, technology, and governance towards more participative and ecosystem-aware models. He emphasised recognizing the future as a living entity and the importance of considering our impact on it. The need for mindful actions, relationship development, and acknowledging the interconnectedness between humanity and nature was evident. The discussion delved into addressing intangible issues and shifting consciousness to effect change from within, utilising the iceberg model to illustrate social reality grounded in systems thinking. This shift influences interpersonal relationships, institutional leadership, and civic engagement, promoting themes of decolonizing ego to eco, sensing future possibilities, and embodying regenerative principles. Scharmer contrasted two dominant narratives: mindfulness and connection versus techno-feudalism and control, invoking Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World to illustrate societal fragility. The thought leader encouraged journaling exercises to enhance collective response capacity and self-reflection within the collective evolutionary journey.
Fundamentally, different spaces of sustainability innovation and their respective were mentioned. The first “1.0” or the traditional business model. The second “2.0” is the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) innovation space. The third is the “Inner Space” or “3.0,” which is about regeneration, healing, and transformative work, but lacks a support structure.
Arhan Bezbora of Co.LabX emphasised the mindfulness of our actions, urging reflection on the why before the how. He advocated for bravery and self-kindness in creating coherence in an imperfect reality and shared insights gained from organisations like ULAB2X. Contributing to the dialogue, Karima Kadaoui introduced the metaphor of being both “gardener and garden”, stressing attention to relational dynamics and the resilience of humanity amidst devastation. She recounted encounters with people in devastated areas who found beauty in witnessing their circumstances. The two speakers collectively embraced the courage needed to trust in our potential and humanity’s connective essence. The significance of addressing systemic issues that are often intangible and underlying, rather than solely focusing on immediate, tangible solutions was reinforced. The speakers also underscored the necessity of shifting consciousness and fostering inner transformation to enact meaningful change in ecosystemic awareness.
In the APAC Systems Learning Series session hosted by Nick Viners from Wicked Lab, the panel delved into sustainable development goals and systems change. Abhilasha Panwar from The Qatar Ministry of Education highlighted education’s influential role in shaping systems. Kuhan Pathy shared Masala Wheels’ journey in building institutional capabilities for impact movements, gaining Malaysian government recognition and 2.5-million-dollar financial support. Both stressed the essential shift from institutional to social enterprise-focused change. Additionally, Jack Sim from World Toilet Organization detailed his transition from conventional to thematic education and promoting toilet usage for systemic impact. The importance of globally evidence-based discourse and coherent resources for transformative effect for systems change was indicated by Alex Hannant from Griffith Centre for Systems Innovation.
The participants explored the intricacies of assessing the impact of systems change, embracing the significance of collaborative efforts, individual motivation, personal growth, and adaptive learning. Addressing the complexities associated with implementing interventions and the necessity of cultivating trust-based relationships was discussed. Throughout the discourse, valuable insights and guidance for agents of social change were provided to value the importance of flexibility and continuous education for meaningful change.
Africa Forward Systems Change for Changemakers
On the last session of the series, Africa Forward discussion focused on the momentum towards narrative shift, ecosystem development, and sustainable financial empowerment and partnerships, bearing in mind the four pillars of the initiative: Social Innovation Sector Development, Job Creation and Skills Development, and Sustainable Financial Empowerment. Danson Gichini from the World Economic Forum emphasised the significance of modelling the social enterprise ecosystem and adopting a systemic change approach that addresses root causes, leading to more comprehensive solutions. The State of Social Enterprise global data estimates 10 million social enterprises worldwide, focuses on purpose and generates 2 trillion in annual revenues, creating over 200 million jobs.
The Systems Work of Social Change book written by Francois Bocini and Cynthia Rayner included three principles: fostering connections, embracing context, and reconfiguring power. The first principle involves building a collective identity among individuals and groups to facilitate learning. The second principle delves into equipping primary actors working on the ground to adapt and respond to daily complexities. The third principle stresses the importance of placing decision-making and resources in the hands of those directly involved to ensure that communities are truly representative.
Building on this understanding, Irene Irene Mutumba from the Private Education Development Network shared her journey towards transforming education in Uganda through a public-private partnership model. This approach involved collaboration among schools, communities, and government representatives to develop a more conscientious curriculum that reflects the needs of all stakeholders. Over the last 20 years, this model has demonstrated effectiveness striving for community developmentIt serves as a platform for gathering local perspectives, prioritising local interests, and fostering sustainable progress.
Rene Parker, shared R- Labs’ systems approach to creating change by building talent, innovation, and spreading hope through collaboration with diverse stakeholders. By engaging with individuals from varied backgrounds, R-Lab enables them to contribute to positive change and “pay it forward” by passing on their knowledge and experiences to others in need. Rene highlighted the inclusion of local problem solvers in their organisations has proved effective in addressing social issues and fostering tangible change.
Key takeaways
Throughout the Systems Change Learning Series, social entrepreneurs gained insights into transformative action, community trust-building, empowerment of local actors, reconnecting with ancestral knowledge, operating with ecosystemic awareness, and embracing the process without the need for total control, They also recognised the importance of having narrative shifts to drive meaningful change. These insights unveiled the importance of applying systemic change approaches to address root causes through bottom-up collaborative efforts across sectors. As we progress on our journey toward systems change, these lessons serve as guiding principles to inform our actions and deepen our impact.
Systems Learning opportunities
This learning series journey, coupled with the Fundraising Masterclasses and other learning opportunities, offers social entrepreneurs and other stakeholders from the social ecosystem the opportunity to scale their impact and devise strategies for implementing systemic change within their operations. To explore more resources and similar learning opportunities visit the Systems Change Learning Series website.
Watch our previous systems learning series on the Systems Work of Social Change with Francois & Cynthia:
- The Systems Work of Social Change: Complexity, Scale and Depth
- The Systems Work of Social Change: Practices of Systems Work
- The Systems Work of Social Change: Rallying Supporting Actors
Let’s ignite this movement and thrive together!