Catalyst 2030's
Catalysing Change Week 2024
Building the Social Innovation Sector
6 - 10 May 2024

Catalysing Change Week 2022 – a snapshot

24 May 2022 | Recaps

Over 250 in person, hybrid and online events were held during Catalysing Change Week 2022. This is a brief overview of some of the sessions that provided a platform for collective knowledge sharing and meaningful interaction.

Other session overviews will be shared as soon as they become available.

Circularity in the Fashion Industry: Incorporating Social and Inclusive Narratives

Action to build the C2030 circular economy group was accelerated. The group will advocate for a shift to an economic model that is good for people and planet.

Engaging the Private Sector towards Addressing Malnutrition

Vitamin Angels launched the India Nutrition Collaborative to build nutritional equity and to progress towards SDG 2 and 3. Key members include CII, Bayer, Tata Trusts, Vitamin Angels and OmniActive.

Sustainable and Safe Mobility | Call to Action

The Sustainable and Safe Mobility Coalition was launched. The coalition aims to target critical aspects of the problems facing education and behaviour, emergency and eyecare/clear vision and the engineering and enforcement required by the government.

How Films Can Tell a Story of a New World

This session highlighted the power of storytelling to effect social change in the world.

The Invisible Visible – Campaign for Rights and Justice

This session resulted in the launch of The Invisible Visible – Campaign for Rights and Justice. It will advocate for the rights of institutionalised and homeless people in India with the goal of transforming legal frameworks.

Redefining Education

A report that will outline the principles needed for a new education system was launched in collaboration with UNESCO and funders.

Catalyst 2030 Honest Broker Strategy

Catalyst 2030’s Honest Broker Strategy was launched during this session. The strategy is an alliance that aims to coordinate and support people and organisations that are leading efforts to shift the funding paradigm towards one grounded in trust, equity and partnership.

Peacebuilding Circles and the Talking Piece

The Talking Peace Project aims to accelerate our progression to create a society based on restorative justice through the training of circle keepers.

Advance SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing with Digital Solutions for Mental Health

The session hosts wanted to gather people to work with and fund them. The aim was to inspire others to care about mental health and see how it fits into the attainment of the SDGs. There will be further ongoing discussions with participants regarding potential collaborations.

Alimentemos la Integración

The session host and participants will continue to meet and collaborate with allies to develop future action plans.

Feminist Systems Change Practice

This session was hosted with the aim of launching a new feminist systems change node of practice. The session host made contact with a participant from Catalyst 2030 who is interested in talking about collaboration.

Funding the First Mile

This session led to a partnership with Sankalp that will prepare entrepreneurs for a first mile deal room that will include smaller funding amounts. The partnership will involve collaboration between investors and entrepreneurs. A proposed in person funding deal room will be launched in India in December.

The Sustainable Menstruation Coalition: Creating Period Victorious Workplaces

This session will lead to participants reaching out to corporate partners, social entrepreneurs and donors to collaborate with the coalition. The session recording will be used for marketing purposes to link donors and potential partners in the hope of hosting another session on the intended outcomes.

Taking Back my PEN!

SARI received opportunities to participate in two local BTM television shows for the campaign. One was held on 17 May 2022 and the other will be held by 31 May 2022. SARI has collaborated with session attendees, including SYRADO Uganda, MEMPROW, Girls not Brides Network Uganda and three others to participate in a national engagement on the  campaign. SARI will also host at least one online session with the Coalition for Adolescent Girls.

COVID-19 Catalysing Recovery of Social and Community Enterprises

This session resulted in the launch of catalysing the recovery of social and community enterprises (CRESCENT), a localised recovery and innovation fund providing accessible hybrid financing.

Co-creating a Workable Financing Solutions Ecosystem for Social Enterprises

This session will lead to the development of a platform to match impact investors with mission driven enterprises.

The Global WE: Mobilisation around our Shared Humanity

Session hosts and participants will continue the dialogue to explore how we can counter the rising tide of issues such as racism, religious conflict, war and disaster. This will be achieved by co-creating a positive force of love, empathy and universal self via the concept of a “Global WE”.

FEATURED SESSION: Shifting the Global Narrative

A stimulating conversation on the relationship between civil society and governments which led to the decision that Catalyst 2030 will work towards a UN convention / declaration which will support civil society partnerships with governments and the UN, while guaranteeing rights and responsibilities.

Community-Based Management of Malnutrition

The understanding of community-based management of nutrition (CBMM) was increased. More sessions on CBMM need to be organised.

Universal Data Ownership

The Universal Data session confronted the urgent need to emerge with approaches to the issues around data privacy, control and ownership. The discussion led to three emerging outcomes and initiatives. The first was the need to merge a universal set of principles on data to enforce data privacy that would set a standard regardless of contexts, reduce cost and coordination efforts and the likelihood of data being misused. Second, participants agreed to create new data and monetisation structures, such as data cooperatives or registries. Third, it was found there was a need to collaboratively partner with data commons to enable data to be owned and used by its rightful owners.

Systems Change in Action: Decolonising Aid and Philanthropy

The session worked towards advancing the movement to decolonise aid and philanthropy by presenting ways that bilaterals and philanthropists can, and should, reach communities closest to the problem. Outcomes include continued conversations with bilaterals and Adeso Africa. Degan Ali is expected to visit Seattle in late June 2022 to speak to a group of funders.

Measuring Impact of Relationships for Collaborative Systems Transformation

Participants will share ongoing research and possibilities for measuring impact outcomes in their own systems.  Useful contact details include: * Strategic SCAN – info@isclarity.org Survey (AHC) – surveys.isclarity.org. * Measure your outputs Assess Share @ ISC – https://isclarity.org. *  Leadership for Flourishing – https://www.leadershipforflourishing.com. * Iberian affiliates – Catalyst 2030 SP and PT Chapters – acg@globalwe.org.

Colaboração Para a Geração de Emprego e Renda

This session led to knowledge sharing as it was broadcast on the host’s channels.

Empathy Project

Some participants will join the next Empathy Project that will be held in the second semester of 2022. Participants want to get more information about the Empathy Project and we will distribute the information through our mailing lists.

Voices of Nature in Human Decision Making

Participants are starting a knowledge and practical sharing space on the Inner Climate Academy’s website from which other initiatives can emerge.

Engaging Africa’s Philanthropists in Africa’s Development

This session reimagined what true philanthropy looks like within an indigenous framework and created a space for voices to be heard, for participation and for the shifting of power dynamics. Post-event campaigns about the session will be held, resulting in dialogue and collaboration with ecosystem partners.

Media and Public Policy

The session highlighted the role of the media and policy makers in achieving the SDGs by 2030. The session attained the following outcomes: 1. It created awareness on mental health and using social media to sensitise  society. 2. Participants agreed social media plays a huge role in helping achieve the SDGs. Organisations must continue to advocate for good governance and a safe, inclusive working environment. 4. More knowledge is needed on gender equality. 5. Participants will collaborate with one of the speakers to host an online mental health session. 5. An annual Walk against Rape campaign will be held in Nigeria to highlight GBV and to advocate for the establishment of one-stop centres for rape victims.

Role of Religion in Women Empowerment

The outcomes of the session included the discovery of new collaborations and a partner, the strengthening of new relationships and the opportunity to explore the possibility of co-hosting future workshops.

Who is Responsible for Quality Education in India?

A checklist was created by all the attendees sharing how they would want to contribute towards quality education.

Shifting the Narrative for the Social Sector

Catalyst 2030’s NASE in India is launching a research study to present the current statistics on the sector and its qualitative contribution to nation building.

Social Enterprise Landscape Snapshot in ASEAN: Reflections and Actions

We aim to identify concrete actions to leverage C2030 resources that can benefit our countries’ social enterprise (SE) ecosystems. Individual country follow-up sessions will be held focusing on themes ranging from access to finance, SE legal frameworks, supply chain links and market access.

Loving Me More programme by ‘The Power of the Heels’

Two participants are interested in collaborating and a third wants to help design the next steps of the Loving Me More programme. The session host is keen to hold another conversation session as well as to interview speakers during a weekly podcast to promote the programme.

C2030 Temp Check: Understanding the Landscape of Climate Action in the Sector

The hosts shared a C2030 survey with participants to get their feedback and responses. Participants were also encouraged to share the survey within their network of collaborators. The survey will be kept open to gather more data. One of the participants also indicated interest to join the group’s next meeting.

Tendrel Catalyst Exploration Session

The hosts presented Tendrel to Catalyst Members, recruited members to join/open new forums and connected members to existing forums. They also promoted their 26 May moderator session.

FEATURED SESSION: The Launch of Africa Forward

Africa Forward is comprised of thriving African social enterprises and communities working towards attaining the SDGs.  Africa Forward calls for a renewed vision and a partnership-driven commitment to reshape the evolving narrative and shift the social impact funding paradigm. It calls for embedding of the principles of equity, resilience and local power; the showcasing of ground-breaking initiatives and innovations and the development of the social impact sector to create a fairer continent for everyone. The “Africa Forward Call to Action” places African narratives at the heart of collaborative partnership-driven opportunities. It aims to create an enabling environment for social entrepreneurs to thrive; provide clear steps for donors, bilaterals, multilaterals and other partners who want to help scale impact and provide guidance for the pooling of resources, such as skills, services and networks. Africa Chapter members also launched the Africa Impact Leadership session.

Social Justice Index

This session launched the Social Justice Index. This index will assess the progression of the attainment of the SDGs according to the people who experience systemic marginalisation.

FEATURED SESSION: Catalysts and Corporates: Accelerating Collaborative Systems Change

Two initiatives, the Catalyst Business Commitment and the Catalyst Corporate Council were launched during this session. These initiatives will provide a pathway for equitable engagement between social enterprises and the private sector.

Why Lead with Half Your Power?

Participants showed interest in the Group Self-Study online course, to become certified in Shakti Leadership. The hosts offer part and full scholarships on a needs basis. Participants wanted the recording and slides, as they understood this was deep material that they would need to listen to from time to time, to understand the many layers.

Building a Strong Executive Summary and Pitch for your Organisation

The speaker will connect with five attendees to support their efforts and apply the learning. The hosts would like to hold a workshop in collaboration with the Catalyst 2030 movement.

Equipping Funders in Systems Change

This session was a productive discussion regarding the way funders work and the need to work more systematically. The hosts will distribute a follow-up email with the slide deck  shared to help cultivate more relationships with those interested in systems change learning.

Testing Circular Foods Systems in Rural Ethiopia

This session showcased the work of A Glimmer of Hope and Nuru International in circular food systems and regenerative agriculture in rural Ethiopia.  It was A Glimmer of Hope’s first Catalyst 2030 event which explored avenues for future collaborations and further speaking engagements with Nuru and its donors. 

The Role of Higher Education in Addressing the Global Refugee Crisis

Participants shared best practices to inspire action and future collaborations. There is an opportunity to host a future conversation series on the global refugee crisis and the SDGs.

The Role of Youth in Fighting Food Insecurity

This session culminated in a call to action for the youth to get involved in agriculture. A monthly newsletter highlighting opportunities for youth in agriculture will be produced and disseminated.

Nutrition Security, School and Community Collaboration

Participants will collaborate with the Assam Government and other organisations to implement multi-stakeholder initiated projects. A paper identifying key elements for successful convergences will be produced.

Scaling Across Borders: Good Practices and Challenges to Achieve the SDGs

A major outcome of the session was that there is a need to provide targeted support to help social entrepreneurs upscale impact, not merely commercial operations, internationally. These support structures need to embrace different forms of learning, including learning from experts and successful peers and to help organisations have a “soft landing” in new countries. Future discussions between enablers of social innovation and social entrepreneurs on scaling impact will be organised.

Impact evaluation issues: A Solution Seeking workshop

An Impact Evaluation Community was formed with funders, SE/NGO leaders and researchers. More than ten participants expressed interest to continue to explore, expand and experiment with impact evaluation processes and methods together.

Inclusive Systems: Digital Transformation, Youth empowerment and Gender Equality

There is a need to amplify the work of building inclusive systems at a policy and public sector strategy level. This should include incentivising investments and providing infrastructure as well as digital skills for women, the youth and other underserved communities. Dialogue on effective actions to build inclusive systems will continue in the months to come.

Gastronomia Social em Prática

This session led to inspirational storytelling to invite new people to join SGM.

Investing in Health and Wellbeing – Walking the Talk

Community-Based Health was launched as a network of social entrepreneurs who are working towards achievement of the provision of comprehensive primary health care. The network is committed to working as partners for change to strengthen citizen-centric comprehensive primary healthcare globally.

Regenerative Architecture for Cities

Good outcome to continue developing the idea. The interactive game was useful. Monthly Debate and Interaction Sessions to develop the idea.

FEATURED SESSION: Climate Actions and Solutions

The South-South Green Development Alliance was launched on the road to COP27 and the G20 Summit. The South-South Alliance promotes the Global South as an equal stakeholder in the design and implementation of climate solutions.

Building Back Better Means Circular

This session created a platform for participants to come up with the idea for a possible pitch day for investors in November 2022. The Kenya Catalyst Chapter was promoted during the session.

FEATURED SESSION: Catalysing Funders

Funders were motivated to think with a systems change mindset using the Funder Self Assessment Tool and to consider the NGO Open Letter calling for a change to funding practices. “Funders need to take a long term view with systems change and recognise that we are building for success, we may not even be alive to see the outcomes.” – Kathy Reich, Ford Foundation

Energy Sovereignty

An interactive participative app pilot project was shared with the Catalyst2030 community.

Upskilling Students and Uplifting Communities to Achieve the SDGs

Several session attendees applied to become members of Catalyst 2030. There was a lot of interest in our work. We plan to present this at other conferences to engage more stakeholders.

Authentic Storytelling for Maximum Impact: A Discussion of Best Practices

The Catalyst Market impact measurement group will develop an Impact Storytelling Toolkit to build the capacity of producer-focused enterprises to communicate their impact through ethical storytelling practices. The session’s Call to Action was as follows: 1. Come join the group if you want to co-create this document 2. Let us know if you want to use this collection of best practices in your work 3. Let us know if you want to receive updates from the Impact Action Group (IAG). The IAG will continue working on developing the tool kit on standardised impact measurement and effective storytelling as well as on developing a potential course on the same topic.  Hosts will send an email to attendees to invite them to respond to the three part CTA.

Mission Ecosystems: Re-energising innovation Ecosystems to Achieve the SDGs

Hosts will follow-up with experts suggested by attendees and seek to hold similar, more open workshops on the topic to promote co-creation.

Space and Sustainability Workshop

Key takeaways included the development of a list of SDGs that align with space sustainability, including Goal 4: Quality Education, Goal 7: Affordable, Clean, and Renewable Energy, Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, Goal 17: Partnerships to Achieve the Goal. The session ended with the following calls to action: 1. Space Education: In Southeast Asia, students are hugely enthusiastic about space education. However, the education system needs to provide a solid foundational education to equip students. Conversations, actions, technology and skills based development is needed to sustain space infrastructure development. Action: To organise a Space Settlement Design Competition that will produce outstanding outcomes. Ideas can be generated without huge budgets. The focus will be on the commitment of key stakeholders in the space industry. 2. Responsible consumption of resources during space exploration: Renewable energy sources may be worth exploring. There will be a focus on the sustainability of future human colonies in space. Action: To arrange for meetings with policymakers to promote these causes. 3. Awareness: Many people have a built-in mindset that space exploration is exclusively for scientists, engineers, or anyone in the STEM field. Sectors like economics, finance, art, music, media and communications are important in the space sector. Action: To promote awareness of Space and Sustainability during World Space Week 2022 from in October 2022.

Financial Ecosystem for a Self-reliant Community

Participants aim to develop an action plan for a framework to strengthen the financial ecosystem to enable a self-reliant community.  Participants agreed to continue discussions, build engagement and co-ownership of the proposed solution and to work towards its implementation.

Shoe Waste and the Future of Footwear

Participants working in the waste stream formed a new collaboration. The session kicked off the group’s waste stream meetings and proposed projects.

Economic Resilience as the Pivot for GENDER, CLIMATE, EQUITY

This session led to the launch of the Equality, Climate and Gender Initiative. This initiative will focus on the development of an innovative resource instrument that recognises the interconnectivity of these issues to achieve systems change on a rapid scale, initially in India and then around the world.

Environmental Conservation and Climate Change Mitigation

Participants will attend a future climate change meeting organised by Catalyst 2030.

Small Businesses Designing their own Sustainable Future

Fruitful conversations were had about a case study that was shared. Some participants expressed interest in finding out more after the session.

Artisan Digiprenuership: The New Formal?

Participants expressed interest in the proposed artisan ‘digipreneur model’ and plan to host sessions jointly as a part of DEF’s A-CODE initiative. A-CODE aims to find ways to enhance collaboration among civil society organisations in different sectors and to advocate for the inclusion of the arts and cultural expression in social change work.  A-CODE will engage the collective to work together to host dialogues, meetings, webinars, conferences, podcasts and broadcasts, to conduct research and facilitate activities on the ground. The CD Collective along with DEF, will initiate discussions with other interested artisan ecosystem stakeholders to confront the sector’s long-standing challenges. Consultations with NITI Aayog (India’s policy planning body) aim to find ways to better integrate government efforts to assist the informal artisan sector.

Green Revolution Foundation

This session led to the formation of new connections  to generate knowledge and support global initiatives across multiple continents. Participants hope to hold future discussions and speaking events to continue conversations about the development of industrial hemp.

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