A learning journey towards relational and collaborative approaches for social change
Clocks and clouds: these are the two poles between which the philosopher Karl Popper has described the different types of challenges we face. Newtonian physics has taught us how to confront clock-like challenges. We’ve learned to build and fix even the most complicated issues. But the cloud-like world is different. We can't construct or repair a cloud. We can’t take a cloud apart to understand it—instead, we need to observe and acknowledge the cloud’s connection to other phenomena and learn to appreciate its dynamic nature. Most of today's challenges are cloud-like problems that need to be met with approaches that are themselves interconnected and non-linear.
Wasan Network—a place for collective learning
For decades, the prevailing view among funders and philanthropic organizations prioritized quantifiable outcomes to create a predictable impact—the clock paradigm. This has not proven successful in these times of increasingly interconnected and complex challenges. Many in the field of philanthropy now feel that it is time to invest our collective energy into relational and emergent approaches to transforming systems. But only together, in a community, an intuition can develop into an intention and eventually achieve transformative power.
The Wasan Network first gathered in 2017 on Wasan Island, in the heart of the Muskoka Lakes in Ontario, Canada. The name translates to “a good place for transformation”. The whole island breathes the rich heritage of indigenous cultures. It was here that the initial participants formulated the following statement:
Networks are a powerful and growing vector for social change. Considering the complex nature of today’s global challenges, solutions need to be reactive to an ever-evolving landscape of players and circumstances. Networks are a fitting way to approach this complex challenge and if well managed, networks help us share and use knowledge across sectors and geographical boundaries.
From this first experience, a lively community emerged that is actively engaged in creating learning opportunities, sharing knowledge and peer-support. Since COVID-19, the community regularly meets in hosted online sessions which connect a growing community of practitioners with experts in the field. Within an environment that encourages learning in small groups as well as the application and testing of new approaches, these sessions regularly foster new knowledge and insights.
A growing network of practitioners and multipliers
The Wasan Network of practitioners works across many different sectors and areas of work, connected by a commitment to advancing the strategies, practices and tools associated with relational and collaborative approaches.
The members of the Wasan Network are driven by their own experience that intentionally designed networks can be a powerful solution and drive a significant increase in resources, engagements and ideas dedicated to making a positive difference in the world. They are convinced that working in a networked way doesn’t just provide great opportunities but will also be a critical amplifier for the future impact of the philanthropic sector.
The ways philanthropy currently collaborates are not yet up to the magnitude of the task ahead, given the complexity of today’s social and environmental problems. To achieve more effective outcomes, it needs more radical ways of collaboration. It is both as simple and as hard as that.
Relationships first: focus on the “how”
Relationships are the essence and fabric of collective impact. It’s critical for those who facilitate communities and collective efforts to support relationship development in ways that build true empathy and compassion so that authentic connections happen—particularly between diverse participants. Everything we know about systems tells us relationships are the foundation. Building deep relationships with others takes time, tenacity, and a willingness to keep showing up—but the payoff is immense.
Although we have many tools at our disposal and create many rational approaches to systematic change, there’s a very simple truth about systems we should take to heart more often: they’re made up of people. If we fail in helping people to change, the system they are a part of will also fail to change significantly. Even people who work with collective impact efforts are themselves actors in the systems they are trying to change—change that must come from within. Inner change is also a relational and iterative process: as the individual shifts the collective, so too does the collective shift the individual in return.
The Wasan Network therefore understands that deep, trust-based relationships are central to any type of social change work. It recognizes that joy and inspiration are important elements of our joint work as philanthropic organizations—and its members are committed to exploring how joy, inspiration, love, and solidarity are embodied through community culture. These elements often go unseen but are critical to our ways of caring for ourselves and each other.
Learning beyond the clock paradigm
The Wasan Network brings together community stewards, network builders and complexity thinkers from foundations and social change organizations across the Americas and Europe. The iac Berlin has been an active member of this networks since its foundation.
We jointly understand that to transform the world, we must first transform our mindsets, our organizations, and our approach to leadership. In a world of cloud-like problems we must become humbler and act from a post-heroic perspective, aware of our deeply rooted interdependency and connectedness.
As the Wasan Network continues its learning journey, it will test and explore new forms of collaboration and how to facilitate their emergence in a highly diverse global learning community. It strives to avoid the pitfalls of the dominant clock-like problem solving mindset. It will innovate, experiment, adjust, and keep learning—always with a focus on social impact. Sticking to Karl Popper’s metaphor: we will support each other and prepare to appreciate and approach the cloud-like challenges of dynamic systems.
Our work is made possible thanks to the support and collaboration of so many colleagues and partners. It is a privilege to be connected to all of you through our shared ambitions and initiatives.
If we piqued your curiosity and you would like to find out more, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us!
This article has been taken from our Activity Report 2022. You can download the entire publication here:
