Collective Impact is a collaborative approach to addressing complex social issues by bringing together cross-sector stakeholders to work towards a common goal. It recognizes that individual organizations working in isolation cannot effectively address complex social issues. Collective Impact creates a more comprehensive and sustainable approach to social change by fostering collaboration and coordination.
The following five conditions define Collective Impact:
Common Agenda: All network members must have a shared understanding of the problem and a common vision for change. This involves establishing specific, measurable goals that everyone can work toward, such as the KConnect co-created Workplan.
Shared Measurement Systems: Developing a set of common indicators and metrics helps align the efforts of different organizations, ensuring that everyone is working towards the same outcomes and can track progress collectively. This is operationalized by KConnect through our publicly available Data Dashboard.
Mutually Reinforcing Activities: Rather than duplicating efforts, organizations collaborate by coordinating their activities to complement and support each other.
Continuous Communication: Open and frequent communication is essential to building trust among stakeholders. Regular communication ensures that everyone stays informed, engaged, and aligned with the common agenda.
Backbone Support: Collective Impact initiatives often have a dedicated support structure, known as the Backbone, that facilitates and coordinates the collaborative effort. This team helps manage the overall process, fosters communication and supports the network.
In addition to these five conditions, Collective Impact focuses on equity. Equity is central to Collective Impact because it recognizes that effective collaboration and sustainable change require a commitment to fairness, inclusion, and addressing the underlying causes of social issues. By prioritizing equity, organizations such as KConnect aim to create lasting positive outcomes for communities in a just and inclusive way.
Explore the KConnect 101, including the Common Agenda, structure, and more, by clicking here.
