4
5

Agree

This step fosters agreement on the scaling strategy and the scaling action plan among the key stakeholders.

Concepts

Without broad stakeholder agreement, the implementation of the scaling strategy is likely to fail

The draft scaling strategy must be agreed upon with the broader project partners and other stakeholders such as donors. This is to ensure buy-in for the proposed strategy and to validate whether the implementation of the strategy is technically and financially feasible and socially and politically acceptable.

Interdependencies and the need for agreement

Stakeholders depend on one another to realize their innovation and scaling ambition. The fact that people are mutually dependent does not necessarily mean that they are actually aware of this, and they also feel or act interdependently. Moreover, even if they feel interdependent, they tend to pursue different goals and ambitions; this implies that they do not necessarily agree on a proposed scaling ambition or strategy. Furthermore, the scaling of an innovation package may also involve the downscaling of pre-existing practices, and this may create opportunities for some stakeholder groups, while at the same time creating challenges for other stakeholder groups. Thus, reaching agreement on a scaling strategy to address bottlenecks to scaling is essential, but definitely not an easy process, and it requires careful and skilled facilitation.

Facilitation of learning and negotiation

Reaching agreement on a scaling strategy to address bottlenecks can be seen as an attempt to build effective coalitions for change and requires intertwined processes of (social) learning and negotiation. Social learning is a process in which people learn about one another’s context and perspectives, discover how they depend on one another to reach their ambitions, and develop common starting points to build upon. It is naive to think that stakeholders can accommodate their different interests and ambitions through social learning only. In the process of reaching agreement, there is likely to be tension and conflict, and typically these differences need to be settled through negotiation. If the outcome of the learning and negotiation process is to not invest in overcoming the main bottlenecks to the scaling of innovation, then the intervention team should critically review its scaling ambitions. This may imply going back to Step 3 and considering alternative strategic options.

Scaling action plan

Once agreement is reached on the overall scaling strategy, a detailed scaling action plan needs to be developed and agreed upon. A scaling action plan includes a detailed description of the activities, responsibilities, timelines, and resources allocated to implement the scaling strategy. The scaling action plan aims to overcome the bottlenecks to scaling and is site specific.

Practices

Faciliated learning and negotiation foster stakeholder agreement on the scaling strategy and the scaling action plan

Step 4 Objectives

Step 4 achieves the following 2 objectives:

  • Objective 4.1: To reach agreement with the relevant stakeholders on the draft scaling strategy and the scaling action plan.
  • Objective 4.2: To document the agreed-upon scaling strategy and the scaling action plan for the different intervention locations.

If stakeholders cannot agree on the proposed scaling strategy, then additional strategic options proposed as part of Step 3 need to be considered. Once the stakeholders have agreed on the scaling strategy and the scaling action plan, the user proceeds to Step 5.

Implementation

The implementation of Step 4 is facilitated through a coherent set of 2 activities and 6 sub-activities

  • Objective 4.1: To reach agreement with the relevant stakeholders on the draft scaling strategy and the scaling action plan.
    • Activity 4.1: Organize and implement a workshop to agree on the scaling strategy and the scaling action plan.
      • Sub-activity 4.1.1: Organize a preparatory meeting to plan the workshop and follow up on decisions taken.
      • Sub-activity 4.1.2: Introduce purposes, participants, and initial findings from Scaling Readiness.
      • Sub-activity 4.1.3: Reach agreement on the scaling strategy.
      • Sub-activity 4.1.4: Develop operational scaling action plans.
  • Objective 4.2: To document the agreed-upon scaling strategy and scaling action plan for the different intervention locations.
    • Activity 4.2: Document, review, and finalize the scaling strategy and the scaling action plan for the different intervention locations.
      • Sub-activity 4.2.1: Develop and share the draft workshop report, which includes the proposed scaling strategy and scaling action plan.
      • Sub-activity 4.2.2: Incorporate feedback from participants and share the final workshop report, which includes the scaling strategy and the scaling action plan.

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