The CI program targets multisectoral stakeholder coalitions working on a social challenge, typically including representatives from government, funding partners, implementing partners (NGOs and social impact organizations), and civil society. Coalitions may be addressing issues such as community health strengthening, nutrition, or emergency response coordination.

We use structured mediation to facilitate difficult conversations where stakeholders can openly address power dynamics, fears, and assumptions. Our approach involves creating safe spaces for honest dialogue, ensuring government leadership is central from the onset, and helping stakeholders articulate their mutual self-interests. This process transforms arms-length relationships into genuine partnerships.

Based on our experience, successful collective impact requires five building blocks: centrality of government ownership as the primary custodian; a compelling case for change that creates urgency; the presence of an influential champion to initiate the platform; engagement of senior leadership to give the platform strategic weight; and adequate finances to support infrastructure and planning.

Collective Impact requires a long-term perspective. While coalitions may achieve early wins within months, meaningful systemic change typically emerges over 18-24 months of sustained collaboration. We measure impact through both short-term outcomes and contributions to longer-term systems change- including the “health” of the initiative- using frameworks such as outcome mapping and outcome harvesting to balance immediate results against future impact.