Catalysts for Change: Game, Set, and Match for Social Change

Like many of us, I hate to lose when I play a game, whether it is cards, sports, or video games. The serious online game Catalysts for Change that I invite you to play this week (April 3- 5) counts on the playful and competitive nature in all of us to propose, debate, and improve on ideas that have the power to change the lives of poor or vulnerable communities around the world. Organized by the Institute for the Future, the game aims to tap the innovative imagination of young gamers as well as NGO practitioners, entrepreneurs, and experts to envision what could be done to address some of the world’s biggest problems.

Ideas to bring about social change are plentiful but often fall short of achieving their full potential. The game encourages players to think about four levers (or catalysts) that have a proven ability to effect change in complex systems: new evidence, new catalysts, new rules, and new stories.

As you can see, the four catalysts are listed according to their order of impact. For example, new evidence such as satellite images help scientists assess the impact of climate change on ecosystems to inform responses by policy makers and the private sector. New capacities such as solar-powered boat schools provide better access to education in rural Bangladesh.  New rules such as participatory budgeting where communities are experimenting with new systems of rules and rulemaking define their approach to governance. Finally, new stories that shift people’s mindsets are powerful catalysts for change; an example of this is the shift from advocating against extractive industries to a campaign to publish what they pay that ensures the region benefits as much as possible.

The game was inspired by The Rockefeller Foundation’s Searchlight work, a unique network of trend- monitoring and horizon-scanning partners, most of them based in the Global South. These organizations are an important component of our idea-generation process. They help us to identify and map early signals where interesting work is happening.

Please share your ideas on Catalysts for Change from 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday, April 3, through 9 a.m. ET on Thursday, April 5. Please encourage your colleagues and friends via Facebook and Twitter (@catalyze4change) to participate in this fun but important approach to catalyze social change.

We are counting on your competitive nature!

Claudia Juech is managing director at The Rockefeller Foundation, a member of the Council on Foundations.