We often hear the phrase: “Treat your social project like a business.” The trend is around impact investments. It’s advice that sounds smart — efficiency, clear goals, measurable results. But when we’re talking about holistic regional change in vulnerable geographies, is business thinking enough? The short answer: Yes… but only if we redefine what “business-like”…
Tag: social impact
SDG17: don’t just wish for a better world – build it. But not alone! (Series article #13)
When we talk about the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we love the visible ones — clean water, climate action, quality education. They’re vital, tangible, and easy to photograph. But SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals?Often overlooked. It doesn’t build a school or plant a tree on its own. Instead, it’s about how we make…
Systemic Change in Action: The V.I.C.C.O Knowledge Hub in Mukuru Slum
Safe, Skilled, Systemic: How Grassroots Innovation Builds Real Value In Nairobi’s Mukuru slums, where daily life presents countless challenges, the V.I.C.C.O Knowledge Hub is creating space for safety, learning, and transformation. Embedded in the System Changer Network Kenya, V.I.C.C.O takes a holistic approach to community-led change — turning local knowledge into scalable, systemic solutions. A…
Are We Measuring What Matters?(Series#12)
Collaboration Deserves a KPI of Its Own (Series#12) In today’s results-driven world, impact measurement has become a cornerstone of project management—especially in development aid and CSR initiatives. KPIs are everywhere. They help us track progress, justify funding, and demonstrate accountability. But here’s the catch: when we focus solely on fulfilling KPIs, we risk missing the…
Why Resilience Shouldn’t Stop at the Boardroom Door (series #10)
Learning from the direct work in very vulnerable communities in Kenya and India <!– wp: Resilience is everywhere in today’s leadership vocabulary — and for good reason. In a world shaped by climate shocks, health crises, and economic uncertainty, businesses are under growing pressure to adapt quickly, recover stronger, and build systems that endure. As…
Beyond CSR: Invest in Systemic Change
What if corporate engagement in Africa went beyond one-off projects and topic driven initiatives — and focused in addition on building the systems that empower long-term change? At System Changer Network Kenya, we unite grassroots NGOs working on education, health, resilience, and poverty reduction. These organizations develop practical, local solutions, share knowledge, and gain international…
Series #8: What 10 Years of Working with Local NGOs in India and Kenya Taught Me About Purpose—What’s Your Take?
For over a decade, I’ve had the privilege of working in a corporate environment while collaborating with local NGOs in India and Kenya—a journey that has been nothing short of transformative. It was profoundly eye-opening, not just for the professional opportunities it unlocked, but for the personal growth it sparked. Through this experience, I learned…
Full Steam Ahead: A House, A Roof, A Future—Together
May, 2025: as Kersia describes: Exciting progress is underway for our October build! Materials have started to arrive, and construction preparations are in full swing. We’ve now secured all the key supplies our local team needs to start producing the blocks that will quite literally lay the foundation of a new home. Even more inspiring—locally…
Series #7: What does partnership truly mean when we collaborate—whether with local NGOs, patients, or global institutions?
In the social impact world, “partnership” is a word we hear often. But too frequently, it means little more than signing an agreement or delivering on a pre-written plan for a project. Through the System Changer Network, we’ve experienced something different—something deeper. 👉 It began with trust. Not just in each other’s work, but in…
Series #6: It’s not always about funds. Structured collaboration for sustainable impact.
Changing How We Support Those Who Need It Most In times of growing uncertainty, real impact isn’t created by isolated projects—it’s built through shared knowledge, trusted relationships, and structured collaboration. That’s the strength of our System Changer Networks (SCN) in Kenya and India: intentional, values-driven networks of grassroots NGOs working together for holistic and lasting…
Series #5 : The Complexity of Need: Why Companies Must Learn from Communities and Social Innovation
Social engagement with local NGOs reveals what need based acting means Are we solving real needs—or just the ones we see? At System Changer Network Kenya, we’ve learned this truth: needs never exist in isolation. A farmer woman in rural Kenya doesn’t just need information about menstruation or pregnancy.She navigates life daily as a mother,…
What if perfection holds us back—and less could change the world? Series #4
Optimization looks different—depending on where you stand. Series Beyond tech: From unseen lives to untapped value—rethinking sustainable investment #4 My professional life moves between two very different realities. On one side, I work in the corporate world—where every day, I see posts about optimization, high performance, leveling up, being “the best version” of everything. On…
Go Kenya, go future! 