Transformations and transformers - Save the Children’s Resource Centre

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Toolkit one: transformations and transformers
Toolkit one: transformations and transformers
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If you watch the news, worry about climate change, feel disturbed by the impacts of unregulated social media and AI, are gripped by the world’s conflicts and vast inequalities and think – ‘Things just have to change!’ – you’re interested in transformations. But what is transformation? And how can one catalyse it? Here, we argue that the social and ecological domains are intertwined and must be addressed together in ways that grapple with complexity. This toolkit is a very short, self-directed learning journey. You can dip in wherever and whenever you like, but for getting started, we recommend that you go through the chapters and sections in order, with each building on the previous ones.
Acknowledgements: This toolkit was created by the Interaktiv kapacitetsutveckling för systeminnovation i utvecklingssamarbete/Interactive capacity development for system innovation in development co-operation​ (IXUS) collaboration, supported by a grant from Sida, and building upon thought leadership in a number of changemaker programmes from the Stockholm Resilience Centre, University of Cape Town, Adapt, Southern Africa Food Labs, University of Waterloo, and University of Victoria.
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Chapters
Transformations
The changemaker journey

Chapter 1Transformations
What do we mean by ‘transformation’ in the context of complex adaptive social-ecological systems? We explore this question in this chapter. There are four sections:

1. Why we can’t wait for transformation. The speakers and authors in this section argue that, in the age of the Anthropocene, with humanity far surpassing many of the planetary boundaries, the need for transformation is urgent.

2. What might transformation look like? There are many ways to think about transformation and to think about alternative futures. In this section, we look at a few interesting perspectives.

3. How systems and complexity thinking are necessary for transformation. This section focusses on resources to help us understand – or remember, if we’ve already been introduced – to what complex adaptive systems are, how they function, how we interact with them, and why, as changemakers, we need systems thinking.

4. How systems entrepreneurship is necessary for transformation. Here we examine agency and the role of the changemaker using the concept of systems entrepreneurship – the collective agency required to shift systems.

Section 1: Why we can’t wait for transformation
8 resources
Let the environment guide our developmenthttps://www.ted.com/talks/johan_rockstrom_let_the_environment_guide_our_development?language=en
In this TED talk, Johan Rockström explains the concept of planetary boundaries, how humanity has already blown past several of them, the dire repercussions, and what we might do about it.
Planetary boundaries and human opportunitieshttps://sdgacademy.org/course/planetary-boundaries-human-opportunities/
You can go deeper into the topic of planetary boundaries by taking this course, available for free on SDG Academy. And don’t skip checking out the many other courses available on this website.
Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planethttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb6wQtNjblk
In this Netflix documentary, Johan Rockström teams up with David Attenboroug to discuss the science of planetary boundaries and its effects on our struggling planet.
A good life for all within planetary boundarieshttps://goodlife.leeds.ac.uk/national-snapshots/countries/
Explore your country’s planetary boundaries compared to others, using the country comparison tool from the University of Leeds. See if you can find countries that remain within planetary boundaries while providing a good life for all – and investigate what they do that might point to reasons for this.
Defining the need for transformations to sustainabilityhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNDkapSTyjo&list=PLUWHlbMj0sOH8NJqTMuNiRkvhaEahHJVH&index=16
In this segment from a Stockholm Resilience Centre open MOOC, Per Olsson discusses what large scale transformations might mean and how transformation is profoundly different from adaptation.
Our problems are wickedhttp://tamingwickedproblems.com/wicked-problems/
This characteristic of the big issues we face is one of the reasons why systems transformations are so important. Learn what a wicked problem is in this short article.
Extinction rebellion South Africa’s declaration of rebellionhttps://xrebellion.org.za/declaration-of-rebellion/#page-content
This is just one example of how people are collectively raising their voices and putting their efforts into creating transformations now. Such declarations and movements exist all around the globe an in many different forms.
Blessed Unresthttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/291205/blessed-unrest-by-paul-hawken/9780143113652
This classic book by Paul Hawken maps the rise of declarations and movements all around the globe and in many different forms. He theorises that the vast number of them, from the very tiniest and most locally-rooted, when linked together, amount to a new era of changemaking.
Section 2: What might transformation look like?
5 resources
Africa and the futurehttps://africasacountry.com/2013/11/africa-and-the-future-an-interview-with-achille-mbembe
The renowned African scholar and philosopher, Achille Mbembe, reflects on the effects of colonialism and global capitalism on the continent, and what Africa’s future could be.
Four futures for democracy in Latin America 2030http://alertademocratica.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/AlertaDemocratica_ExecutivePresentation.pdf
This paper presents four possible futures for Latin America, based on a structured scenario-building process. Both the scenarios, themselves, and the process are interesting and relevant to changemakers.
Asia-Pacific environment and development futures in 2040https://www.unescap.org/projects/apdf-2040/futures
Here’s an example of similar scenario planning in the Asia Pacific region.
Welcome to the anthropocenehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdgsAx0TJuE&list=PLUWHlbMj0sOH8NJqTMuNiRkvhaEahHJVH&index=3
In this segment from a Stockholm Resilience Centre open MOOC, Johan Rockström explains the great acceleration, how it has resulted in a new planetary epoch – the Anthropocene – and the resulting need to redefine sustainable development.
Does development need resilience?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nPBmzUkp60&list=PLUWHlbMj0sOH8NJqTMuNiRkvhaEahHJVH&index=9
Mercy Corps staff around the world talk about their approach to resilience and how thinking differently has transformed how they work.
Section 3: How systems and complexity thinking are necessary for transformation 
12 resources
Introduction to systems thinkinghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXdzKBWDraM
In just over two minutes, Peter Senge introduces the concept of systems thinking and the basics of systems thinking leadership.
Forgotten connectionshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS6qJDP1nlU
The African Biodiversity Network explores the problem of fractured communities and the need for connected and collective action in the face of complex problems. They describe their community- and Indigenous-rooted approach, respecting emergence, in order to catalyse change.
Complexity or clockware? https://vimeo.com/117051066
In this lecturette, one of a series from the Waterloo Institute for Social Innovation and Resilience at the University of Waterloo, Frances Westley explains how complex systems are fundamentally different from the conception of the world as a kind of mechanical clockware – the dominant paradigm over the past several hundred years.
Seeing complexityhttps://vimeo.com/113570210
Frances Westley examines a few basic features of complexity, why our world is becoming increasingly complex, and some of the implications.
Connectedness and feedbackhttps://vimeo.com/114063664
Going further into characteristics of complexity, Professor Westley discusses cascading effects, over-connectedness, herding behaviours, and feedbacks that are sensitive to very small changes. She argues that to be able to understand what is happening in a system, we need to use a complexity lens.
Simple, complicated, and complexhttps://vimeo.com/115142858
This video introduces the key concepts of simple, complicated, and complex domains; that not all problems are complex; and how to recognise each type.
The Cynefin frameworkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=5mqNcs8mp74
This framework for understanding simple, complicated, complex, and chaotic domains, is useful for making sense of issues in personal, organisational, or global contexts.
The certainty/agreement matrixhttps://vimeo.com/115142859
The certainty/agreement matrix is an analytical framework for understanding the nature of problems, and whether they sit within the zone of complexity. Knowing this is important in order to bring the right mindset and apply appropriate skillsets and tools.
What is your problem? https://vimeo.com/117111892
This short animation shows you how to apply the certainty/agreement matrix in your own work.
All is connectedhttps://vimeo.com/118776721
In this lecturette, Frances Westley goes a bit deeper into the characteristics of a system and the key insight – necessary for any good problem analysis – that all parts are interconnected. She also introduces the critical insight (to be examined more later), that you are a part of the very system you seek to change. 
WISIR learning moduleshttps://uwaterloo.ca/waterloo-institute-for-social-innovation-and-resilience/learning-modules
These learning modules are an introduction to systems, complexity, social innovation, and the role of the changemaker. Several short sessions have been covered, above. But it’s well worth going through all the learning modules in order, to get a grounding in these concepts.
Si systems change introductory coursehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS5y--ODWeU&list=PLsJWgOB5mIMCAD33pve6_HyfuGTlCTQgd
System innovation (Si) has posted an entire introductory course on YouTube. It covers definitions and foundational concepts, as well as various tools for understanding systems. 
Section 4: How systems entrepreneurship is necessary for transformation
4 resources
Agencyhttps://vimeo.com/124574776
Frances Westley examines the concept of agency, what it means, and how it differs in contexts where changemakers are seeking to address a complex problem and shift a whole system – in particular, the difference between social entrepreneurs and systems entrepreneurs.
What makes a promising innovation?https://vimeo.com/122388124
If changemakers must act differently in complex contexts, must innovations also be different? Westley argues that, yes, they must, and that problem-solving can enable adaptation, but does not transform the system creating the problem in the first place.
Angry kid videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY7875_rv1s
Watch this short Greenpeace promotional video, which sets up the discussion in the following resource.
Recognising yourself in the systemhttps://vimeo.com/118777954
Frances Westley continues the discussion by asking us to reflect, with honesty, about our role in and contributions to the systems we seek to change. She explains some common failures of changemakers to think systematically.

Chapter 2The changemaker journey
Changemakers often don’t like to have the spotlight on themselves, preferring to put all their energy into helping others. But it’s important for changemakers to transform, as well, and to care for their own needs. We look at reflective practice, developing a social-ecological mindset, and the self in system/system in self dynamic. There are three sections:

1. Transforming the changemaking journey through reflective practice. We offer just a few resources related to reflective practice, which are designed specifically with changemakers in mind. 

2. Developing a social-ecological mindset. An integrated social-ecological mindset is critical for changemaking – because our social and ecological worlds are inextricable. So, the problems we tackle have interlocked social and ecological dimensions. Here are some resources to make a beginning.

3. Self in system, system in self. We sometimes have a tendency to think about any system that we’ve identified as separate from us; but we are embedded in the system and the system is embedded in us. We tackle this important insight in this section.
Section 1: Transforming the changemaking journey through reflective practice
5 resources
Mindfulnext websitehttp://www.mindfulnext.org/aid-to-zen/
Aid worker and psychologist, Alessandra Pigni, developed this website as a way to explore the deep emotional and spiritual issues that changemakers face. It’s a trove of useful reflections and resources. Sadly, Alessandra died in 2018, but the work that she so generously shared remains, for us to benefit from. You can learn more about her at alessandrapigni.com.
Don’t chase happiness—become antifragilehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-or_D-qNqM
Nassim Nicholas Taleb introduced the term antifragile into our vernacular. It’s an important concept for systems thinkers (see toolkit three: Working in organisations). Here, happiness researcher, Tal Ben-Shahar, discusses the concept within the context of personal growth, and introduces the S.P.I.R.E. (spiritual, physical, intellectual, relational, emotional) model of antifragile growth.
Personal progression for government innovatorshttps://apolitical.co/solution-articles/en/how-are-innovative-public-servants-born
This blogpost from apolitical proposes a framework for thinking about the personal growth and progression of innovators. Here, the subject of the framework is government workers, but the concepts are easily applied in any sector. Whether or not you agree with the framework, it provokes good thinking and inquiry.
Changing the way we change the worldhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOSSb5d1lq4
This short documentary presents examples and makes the case for the internal, relational work of organisations as key to catalysing transformative change.
Inner work for changemakershttps://www.innerworkforsocialchange.org/
This website is dedicated to providing resources to changemakers to tackle their inner work.
Section 2: Developing a social-ecological mindset
11 resources
Ecosystem services and well-beinghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7luERIPOZI&list=PLUWHlbMj0sOH8NJqTMuNiRkvhaEahHJVH&index=26
In this short video (part of an open MOOC from the Stockholm Resilience Centre) Tim Daw explains the critical concept of ecosystem services and how they relate to well-being.
Reconnecting people and planethttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsk5bRXxo0o&list=PLUWHlbMj0sOH8NJqTMuNiRkvhaEahHJVH&index=27
Carle Folke challenges us that we need to reconnect people and planet if we hope to be able to tackle the complex problems we face.
Social-ecological dynamics in your problem2023
Use this worksheet to analyse the social-ecological dynamics in your system as a way of becoming more attuned to the inextricable connections between the social and the ecological
 1 pages  (514.3 KiB)
Climate change quiz and reflection2023
Download this worksheet to find a link to a quick, interactive climate change quiz. Then use the reflection exercise to dig into your, perhaps, invisible assumptions about climate... View Full Abstract
PDF (446.3 KiB)
How climate change fuels deadly conflicthttps://globalclimate.crisisgroup.org/
This interactive infographic, from the Crisis Group, delves into the many and deep connections between climate change and conflict.
Climate change dictionaryhttps://climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/climate-dictionary-everyday-guide-climate-change?ck_subscriber_id=1927618606&utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Groundbreaking+EU+gender+data+map%2C+Global+fellowship+on+sexual+pleasure%2C+Associate+at+Human+Rights+Watch+Japan+%20-%2010819455
A dictionary from UNDP, described as ‘an everyday guide’. This is a resource that doesn’t make assumptions of prior knowledge, and explains concepts in plain language (in English, French, and Spanish, currently).
Teleconnectivity in a global worldhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0Ib2rK3AA8&list=PLUWHlbMj0sOH8NJqTMuNiRkvhaEahHJVH&index=31
Beatrice Crona, of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, explains the key concept of teleconnectivity in social-ecological systems.
Teleconnections and inconvenient feedbackshttps://sdgacademylibrary.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/Teleconnections+and+Inconvenient+Feedbacks/1_on7upgj3
Here, we go further into understanding teleconnections and the feedback loops that can intensify and drive them, in this short segment from the SDG Academy Library.
SDG Academy Libraryhttps://sdgacademylibrary.mediaspace.kaltura.com/home
You can dive into many more related topics in the SDG Academy Library.
Whole systems and lifecycle systemshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHQjeJxMPRI&app=desktop
This short, tongue-in-cheek video explains what whole systems and lifecycle thinking is, and why they’re important for addressing complex problems.
Antifragility and its implicationshttps://fs.blog/antifragile-a-definition/
The concept of antifragility is an important one to understand complex systems and what they mean, in practice, to our work and lifeways. It was popularised by Nassim Nicholas Taleb in his book of the same name. This blogpost explains Taleb's concept of antifragility through extensive quotes and explanatory notes.
Section 3: Self in system, system in self
4 resources
The self in systems thinkinghttps://www.consciousroots.co.uk/post/the-self-in-systems-thinking
What does ‘self’ really mean when one is part of a complex system which is, itself, embedded in other complex systems? This article argues for a radical rethinking of the concept.
Inauguration speech, David Choquehuanca, Bolivia, 2020https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcOKNs8hfsU
Now listen to an inspiring expression of this kind of thinking, from the underlying philosophy, to imagining what must be done to put it into practice in the political sphere, and in society more generally.
Scale: The journey toolhttps://vimeo.com/121322622
This short animation focusses on individuals' relationships to dynamics at other scales within a system and introduces an analysis tool for understanding this self in system, system in self relationship. You can download and use the worksheet, "The journey tool", below.
Scale: the journey tool (worksheet)https://uwaterloo.ca/waterloo-institute-for-social-innovation-and-resilience/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/22-23._scale-the_journey_tool-for_downloading_0.pdf
This worksheet includes the framework shown in the video above, along with an extra page for you to add notes about your own situation. You can use it in your work (do this with your team/other stakeholders). Start by identifying the person you’ve chosen to focus on who is moving through your complex system. Then, discuss their experience. What is happening for them at each level and at each of the different nodes in the framework? When things go awry, which node or level is that coming from? And what’s driving it at other levels or in other nodes?

You can also use this tool to reflect individually on your own, personal, situation. Think of a tough issue you’re dealing with right now, and ask the same questions. Where are the pressures coming from? How are they connected? This will help you to better see and appreciate how you’re a part of the very system you’re trying to change – and how it’s inside you, as well.

Transformations
The changemaker journey