tl;dr: In #DevelopmentCooperation, most structural challenges are #complex. Unfortunately, the sector is not well prepared to understand and work in the complex domain. #FutureOfCooperation 🌍 In development cooperation, especially when it comes to tackling underlying structural challenges, initiatives operate in the realm of complexity. Understanding this is crucial for effective decision-making. In the complex domain, cause and effect are only apparent in hindsight, requiring adaptive and emergent solutions. The Cynefin Framework helps to make sense of the world in which one wishes to make a difference and explains an initial distinction between Ordered (simple as well as complicated), Complex, Chaotic. 🔍 Characteristics of the complex domain: - Unpredictability: Outcomes are uncertain and traditional project management approaches may not be effective. - Emergent solutions: Effective strategies emerge through experimentation and learning rather than the application of best practice. - Need for adaptability: Flexibility and responsiveness are essential to navigate the changing landscape of challenges (and opportunities) that initiatives face. Nevertheless, development cooperation continues to be based on an understanding of the world as an ordered domain, sometimes unknowingly in a state of confusion. The sector needs to get real: - Iterative approaches: Conducting safe-to-fail experiments - even many in parallel - allows for learning and adaptation, leading to more effective interventions. - True stakeholder engagement: Working with local communities and stakeholders is essential to understand the nuances of complex environments. - Continuous learning within individual initiatives: Ongoing evaluation and adaptation are needed to respond to emerging patterns and challenges. 🌱 It would be very helpful if sector leaders were to recognise the complex nature of structural challenges in development cooperation. This would allow appropriate action to be taken. 
Technology Innovation Architect
2moI think the first step is to figure out why we desire for predictability and hope that everything is just complicated instead of complex. I guess we want to believe that public money has to be spent with an exact description of value that is achieved - although for example in academia we are used to research and exploration with public funds. Interesting topic to think about..