Theory of Change

In formulating our theory of change, Global Gain sought a leverage point that could significantly improve the lives of impoverished and marginalized people around the world in ways that would have a lasting impact on the problems affecting them. In other words, we sought a ripple effect of sorts -- minimum inputs for maximum outcome. We soon discovered that one way to achieve this was to find proven long-term solutions that are ready for wide-scale replication and work with the organizations that created them to design strategies that utilize collaborative partnerships to their fullest potential.

What we liked about this approach is that it is not specific to one particular issue area -- it can easily be applied to blueprints for social change regardless of what social problem they address. So not only is the strategy itself based on the adaptability of blueprints from one local context to the next, but it is also highly adaptable in and of itself. In this way, our theory of change is holistic in its approach to solving complex social problems plaguing impoverished nations and peoples. Whether the best blueprints we find are concerned with ill-health, education, the environment, housing, agriculture, extreme poverty, etc., adaptive blueprinting and scaling-out strategies are just as applicable.

An added benefit of our theory of change is that it will enable us to eventually put together a team of people with diverse passions who share a common desire to see like-minded organizations working more closely together in pursuit of common objectives.