Thinkpiece
Embracing complexity
Towards a shared understanding of funding systems change
- Published by
- Ashoka
Significant financial resources are dedicated to solving humanity’s most pressing problems, but solving them requires long term support that goes beyond activity-based funding by tackling the root cause with approaches that aim to change systems.
Short funding horizons, restricted financial resources and funders’ interference with initiatives pose major challenges. This report is therefore a collaborative effort from funders, intermediaries, and systems change leaders who aim to send a signal to the social sector funding community – including philanthropists, foundations, impact investors, corporate donors, government agencies, and multilateral organisations – that current practices need to evolve to better support systems change leaders.
It aims to reach those in the funding community who want to evolve their current model to invest in systems change approaches.
The report looks at five principles for funding systems change:
- Embrace a systems mindset
- Support evolving paths to systems change
- Work in true partnership
- Prepare for long-term engagement
- Collaborate with other stakeholders