Key drivers for systemic transformations

Outline

There is growing recognition that our current economic systems generate interconnected social, environmental, and governance challenges. Addressing these issues requires more than isolated efforts; it calls for a systemic approach to societal transformation. This approach should be guided by universal values, an alternative vision of progress, sustainable objectives, and the inclusion of underrepresented groups. While challenges are global, local contexts and development levels demand differentiated solutions that adapt to specific needs and capabilities.

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Key Issues

Systemic transformation paths are complex constructions that should point to key action points and drivers towards better societies. A number of important steps are necessary to start outlining such transformation paths:

  1. Identify the main causes of negative externalities
  2. Map out key dynamics of interplay and reinforcement that create system between externalities
  3. Take into account the interaction and interdependence not only between challenges but also across scales
  4. Explore reform actions that could break or transform the dynamics at play – including with a multi- and cross-level perspective
  5. Map out the complex array of processes and actors that can foster and activate societal change, here again from a multi- and cross-level perspective, and prioritize the more impactful ones
  6. Provide actionable tools for empowering and promoting social progress coalitions without reducing the importance of situated adaptation, nor the variety of worldviews and of intermediate goals.

Three structuring principles need to be upheld and interconnected as necessary foundations of systemic transformation towards sustainable social progress and individual flourishing: emancipation, deliberation and well-being.

There are many proposals already on the table around reform priorities, their sequencing and funding options (refer to the Manifesto for Social Progress) but the most pertinent and difficult issues are the following:

  1. How to create the conditions for and nurture the production of prototype collective solutions
  2. How to sustain a deliberative participatory process that will lead to effective implementation and scale up over time
  3. How to set up and nurture transparent, inclusive, participatory, efficient and creative coalitions at and across all levels

Designing a report card to monitor progress on systemic transformation

Designing a kind of systemic report card for reforms/projects/initiatives to be undertaken will help interconnect the various dimensions and levels of social progress by integrating the decision-making process as well as the externalities produced.

For each of the three conditions (emancipation, deliberation, well-being), each proposed reform/ project/initiative should respond to the following questions:

  • How does it contribute to emancipation?
  • Has the decision-making process leading to the proposal been inclusive and participatory?
  • Does it enhance sustainable and just prosperity?

Coordinators

Olivier Bouin (RFIEA/UBIAS)

Pedro Conceiçao (UNDP)

Hossain Zillur Rahman (PPRC/BRAC)

Marie-Laure Salles (Geneva Graduate Institute)