Innovators and NGOs all over the world can always sense the opportunity and scope for scaling of their solutions and programmes, thanks to similar problems observed across regions and communities. Center for Education Innovations (@CEInnovations) recently hosted a Twitter conversation on innovators' journeys to scale. The topic was "Challenges Faced and Lessons Learned While Trying To Scale". Innovators and NGOs from all over the world joined the online conversation. Questions were asked, opinions were presented, great insights and experiences were shared. Summarizing the discussion here for benefit of all interested -
A. Regarding donor's role in scaling -
- Donors can help scaling of innovators' solution / programme through non-financial contribution, such as visibility and network.
- Instead of one-time project funding, donors can provide multi-year flexible funding support for scaling.
- Trial and error methods are generally not supported by donors. Innovators (or NGOs) are afraid of experimenting due to possibility of project failure.
- Funds are usually available either for small pilot organizations or big-scale established organizations. Scaling trials fall in the middle category and hence lack funding support.
- No funding without evidences. No evidences without funding.
B. Regarding roles of all stakeholders in scaling -
- Important stakeholders of scaling are - Innovators (NGOs), Funders, and Government.
- Clarity of roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders is important.
- Local innovators / implementors should be included from design stage.
- Local partners play important role even in the case of scaling by established organizations.
- Local authorities and influential figures need to be involved while scaling in a new area / community.
C. Regarding local challenges faced while scaling -
- Finding right local partners.
- Producing evidences for local as well as existing funders.
- Unpredictable response from local government and communities.
- Understanding targetted problems from a local political perspective.
D. Regarding internal challenges faced while scaling -
- Innovators (NGOs) are not focused on non-programme activities, such as HR and training. Hence recruitment, retention, monitoring become more and more difficult along the journey to scale.
E. Regarding importance of data in scaling -
- Data is evidence. Transparent and flexible data management along with strong data analysis is crucial for scaling.
- Data is mostly used for reporting. It should rather be used for decision making and improvements.
F. Regarding sustainable and successful scaling -
- Government systems are best channels for scaling. Innovators should design programmes which can easily be adopted by the government.
- Ownership of programmes should be shared with local partners. They understand local needs better.
- If ownership migrates from source of solution / product to communities being served, it becomes a movement.
- Collaborating instead of competing will ensure successful scaling. Providing funding and knowledge support to local partners is better than setting up parallel solutions everywhere.
Innovators and NGOs who have tried scaling or are in the process of scaling could provide first-hand information on most of the above-mentioned points. Entire discussion on #JourneysToScale is available at - http://twitter.com/hashtag/JourneysToScale
Thanks to Center for Education Innovations (http://twitter.com/CEInnovations) for providing a platform to discuss common problems and potential solutions in the journey to scale!
- Mandar Shinde (http://twitter.com/aksharmann)
A. Regarding donor's role in scaling -
- Donors can help scaling of innovators' solution / programme through non-financial contribution, such as visibility and network.
- Instead of one-time project funding, donors can provide multi-year flexible funding support for scaling.
- Trial and error methods are generally not supported by donors. Innovators (or NGOs) are afraid of experimenting due to possibility of project failure.
- Funds are usually available either for small pilot organizations or big-scale established organizations. Scaling trials fall in the middle category and hence lack funding support.
- No funding without evidences. No evidences without funding.
B. Regarding roles of all stakeholders in scaling -
- Important stakeholders of scaling are - Innovators (NGOs), Funders, and Government.
- Clarity of roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders is important.
- Local innovators / implementors should be included from design stage.
- Local partners play important role even in the case of scaling by established organizations.
- Local authorities and influential figures need to be involved while scaling in a new area / community.
C. Regarding local challenges faced while scaling -
- Finding right local partners.
- Producing evidences for local as well as existing funders.
- Unpredictable response from local government and communities.
- Understanding targetted problems from a local political perspective.
D. Regarding internal challenges faced while scaling -
- Innovators (NGOs) are not focused on non-programme activities, such as HR and training. Hence recruitment, retention, monitoring become more and more difficult along the journey to scale.
E. Regarding importance of data in scaling -
- Data is evidence. Transparent and flexible data management along with strong data analysis is crucial for scaling.
- Data is mostly used for reporting. It should rather be used for decision making and improvements.
F. Regarding sustainable and successful scaling -
- Government systems are best channels for scaling. Innovators should design programmes which can easily be adopted by the government.
- Ownership of programmes should be shared with local partners. They understand local needs better.
- If ownership migrates from source of solution / product to communities being served, it becomes a movement.
- Collaborating instead of competing will ensure successful scaling. Providing funding and knowledge support to local partners is better than setting up parallel solutions everywhere.
Innovators and NGOs who have tried scaling or are in the process of scaling could provide first-hand information on most of the above-mentioned points. Entire discussion on #JourneysToScale is available at - http://twitter.com/hashtag/JourneysToScale
Thanks to Center for Education Innovations (http://twitter.com/CEInnovations) for providing a platform to discuss common problems and potential solutions in the journey to scale!
- Mandar Shinde (http://twitter.com/aksharmann)
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