Designing for Durable Scale

A solution that does not match the scale of the problem it seeks to address will not solve it. Across the development sector, there is growing recognition that meaningful scale requires solutions that are not just effective, but embedded and sustained within government and other systems long term. As this understanding has taken hold, a nuanced set of questions has emerged. What does it actually mean to design solutions that can be adopted and scaled by governments, markets, or other system actors? How should organizations balance effectiveness, affordability, and simplicity when designing for scale? What roles should different actors – INGOs, social enterprises, and funders – play in enabling solutions to thrive without relying on philanthropy for the long-run? While frameworks and theories on scaling are well developed, translating these ideas into operational choices remains complex. Organizations are grappling with how to adapt their models, build new capabilities, and make strategic decisions about what to do or not, in pursuit of long-term, self-sustaining impact. This webinar brings together leaders from three distinct organizations – a major donor, an early-stage funder of social enterprises, and an INGO – to explore how these shifts are playing out in practice. Drawing on real-world examples and organizational experience, panelists will reflect on the implications of designing for scale and sustained delivery from the start: how this changes the way interventions are conceived, how partnerships are formed, and how success is defined.