Change Outcome paper to Sustaining System Change – Amid Political Transitions: Strategies and Insights

Introduction

To achieve success in systems change efforts, sustained engagement with government entities over an extended period is crucial. However, changes within government can sometimes disrupt or delay these efforts. Several Co-impact partners in Africa, gathered through a Community of Practice, discussed the challenges they faced and the strategies they employed to address them. This learning brief summaries the challenges and strategies shared at the gathering.

The changes that affect Systems changes work

Although government undergoes various changes, those involved in systems change often encounter two common types of changes.

❖ Departure of Government allies:

Successful systems change relies heavily on cultivating robust relationships with key government stakeholders who support and advocate for the desired changes. However, these allies may leave their positions due to transfers, job losses, or changes in political leadership with a new administration. When such departures occur, civil society organisations (CSOs) must re-establish relationships and secure buy-in from new stakeholders, which can result in a significant loss of momentum for the systems change initiatives. Building relationships and gaining access to key government decision-makers can be challenging, especially during political transitions when new leaders are in place.

❖ Changes in Government priorities and mandates.

Government commitment to partnering on systems change is often driven by current priorities and policy agendas. However, these priorities can shift, leading to decreased attention and focus on specific issues. Changes in government can exacerbate this, as new administrations may have different priorities and policy agendas compared to their predecessors. Political transitions can also lead to changes in budget allocations and the availability of government resources to support initiatives.