Systems Change
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What is Systems Change?
For us, systems change means realigning the underlying policies, relationships, functions, incentives, and motivations to higher, outcome-focused, and more inclusive equilibrium; such that millions of people, and in particular historically disadvantaged constituencies, experience meaningful and sustained improvement in their lives.
Suggested "roadmap" for Design Grant thinking, analyses, partnership-building, and organizational engagement.
Program Partner Prospectuses:
Video: Systems Change with Andrew Youn (One Acre Fund) - What it means to apply a systems change lens [July 2021]
The guide offers a common language and shared framing of systems thinking for FCDO and its partners. It explores what this implies for working practices, business processes and leadership. It also offers links to additional resources and tools on systems thinking.
This reading list compilation of Donella Meadows' most foundational works helps communicate difficult systems thinking concepts in understandable and exciting ways to develop system thinking skills.
Because systems naturally resist change, systems thinkers must learn to build change with resilience.
Explores the economic thinking needed to bring humanity into the Doughnut, drawing together insights from diverse economic perspectives in a way that everyone can understand.
How-to guides for others to use and adapt, and examples of Doughnut Economics in action
This paper presents guidance on a back-to-basics approach to assessing system change.
PDIA is a step-by-step approach which helps break down problems into its root causes, identify entry points, search for possible solutions, take action, reflect upon what you have learned, adapt and then act again. It is a dynamic process with tight feedback loops that allows you to build your own solution to your problem that fits your local context.
Market Systems ResourcesIn this paper, other funders and partners share thinking of shaping markets.
This portal provides resources on the why and how of making markets work better for those living in poverty by growing incomes, services and livelihoods. A key resource is The Springfield Centre, The Operational Guide for the Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) Approach, 2nd edition [August 2015]
The Guide aims to provide an accessible operational resource to help practitioners put the market systems development approach into practice. It explains the key principles and frameworks which guide the process of effective intervention in – and development of – market systems, addressing common challenges with examples of good practice based on practitioner experience
Grant Agreement:
Round 3 Prospectus Guidance: [May 2021]
[June 2021]
[June 2021]
K4D | Guide | byJim Woodhill, Juliet Millican [February 2023]
The Donella Meadows Project Academy for Systems Change | Repository |
SSRI | Article | by John Kania [June 2021]
Doughnut Economics Action Lab | Guide | [September 2020]
Doughnut Economics Action Lab | Repository |
Springfield Centre | Paper | [May 2020]
Center for International Development, Harvard University | Toolkit | [October 2018]
FSG & The Rockefeller Foundation | Guide | [July 2017]
Beam Exchange | Repository |
The Springfield Centre | Guide | [August 2015]
