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Social
Innovations
Scaling
Toolkit

Establishing an effective program is one thing, but scaling that program for maximal impact is another!

Scaling a project is all about taking something that works in one setting and trying to make it work for more people. This toolkit dives into the world of how to scale programs, aiming to help you expand these initiatives effectively.

The Scaling Toolkit compiles insights from research findings and practitioner expertise into a set of key tools, each targeting specific success and risk factors for both the initial programs and their expansion. This nuanced approach will help you navigate the challenges of expanding your programs, considering not only what made your program successful, but also what will make your program expansion successful.

Navigating the toolkit

The toolkit comprises 7 tools.

As you delve into each tool, you’ll find thought-provoking questions to navigate what scaling for your program may look like. While the journey of scaling is unique for every program, beginning with a solid plan ensures that your efforts are strategic, purposeful, and impactful.

Although the tools are presented in a sequence, it’s flexible. Feel free to explore them in any order that aligns with your journey. As you make your way through the toolkit, each step you take, every reflection you ponder, and every insight you gather, culminates into a bigger picture — the potential of your program’s scaling.

Click on the tools below to learn more

Here’s why scaling is challenging.

  • Each place or region has its distinct nuances. What works in one place may not necessarily fit into another.
  • As a program grows, its effectiveness might not remain
    the same.
  • External factors, like changes in policies or economic scenarios, can pose hurdles.
  • The context for all programs rarely remains static, the environment changes which can effect how a program works within it.

To design this toolkit, we:

  • Examined academic studies and sought expert opinions from practitioners.
  • Deep-dived into a specific programs and those who participated in such programs.
  • Refined the toolkit with industry professionals.

A few things to remember:

  • This toolkit is designed for teams looking to scale their programs – it’s not just for program managers, it’s for anyone thinking about scaling.
  • It doesn’t dictate decisions but supports your thought process.
  • Although the tools are presented in a sequence, it’s flexible. Feel free to explore them in any order that aligns with your journey. It can be useful to come back to earlier tools as you collect knowledge through your scaling journey and check if your earlier thinking is still on track.
  • Factors that lead to the success of a small program might not always guarantee success when scaling. For instance, a program deeply rooted in a local community might find it hard to replicate that same impact on a broader scale.