Reflections on working adaptively in complex, multi-actor settings

[Will Allen]

Hi all,

Sharing a few recent reflections from the Learning for Sustainability site that may be of interest here. The site brings together curated open-access resources alongside reflections from my own work in evaluation, facilitation, and multi-actor programme design, mostly in environmental and sustainability settings, but the patterns travel.

Recent posts have focused on what it actually takes to work adaptively over time in complex settings, how people coordinate, learn, and make decisions under uncertainty, and how collaboration and learning are supported in practice. Recent posts that may connect with conversations in this group include:

• Working with place over time: lessons for long-term, multi-actor practice - How long-term, place-based initiatives can reduce friction, support good decisions, and hold up over time in complex settings

• Supporting shared learning in complex, multi-actor settings - How collaborations can move beyond information sharing to support learning and adaptation

• Working together in a polycrisis: the collaboration and learning infrastructure we keep missing - Why collaboration and learning arrangements often determine whether initiatives hold together over time

Alongside these reflections, the site also brings together curated, annotated links to guides, frameworks, and tools across systems thinking, reflective practice, MEL in complex settings, co-design, behaviour change, and related areas. The site is here: https://learningforsustainability.net/. 

Interested to hear how others are approaching similar challenges.

kind regards
Will

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Will Allen
Learning for Sustainability – https://learningforsustainability.net/
An online guide to resources on engagement, co-design and adaptation
E-mail: willa...@gmail.com